BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates generally to ring protectors. In particular, ring protectors that are adjustable with a comfortable exterior that doesn't obscure a user's ring are described.

Known ring protectors are not entirely satisfactory for the range of applications in which they are employed. For example, existing ring protectors are not adjustable and come in set sizes. These set sizes may not fit securely on the user's finger, increasing the chance the existing ring protector will not prevent loss of the user's ring. Moreover, with these set sizes, existing ring protectors require the user to use multiple protectors for each ring and for each finger or toe the user may wear a ring. In addition, conventional ring protectors cover, obscure, or interfere with the ring the user is trying to protect.

Thus, there exists a need for ring protectors that improve upon and advance the design of known ring protectors. Examples of new and useful ring protectors relevant to the needs existing in the field are discussed below.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure is directed to adjustable ring protectors to be worn on a digit of a user that include a first ring shape, an interior comprising at least one interior material, an exterior comprising at least one exterior material encasing the at least one interior material, and the exterior comprising an exterior surface including a texture. The first ring shape includes a first end, a second end, and a first open space between the first end and the second end. The least one exterior material includes a soft material. The at least one interior material includes a deformable material. The at least one interior material and the at least one exterior material are configured to minimally deform producing a second ring shape configured to securely fit the adjustable ring protector on the digit of the user. The second ring shape includes the first end, the second end, and a second open space. In some examples, the adjustable ring protector includes a first end cap coupled to the first end and a second end cap coupled to the second end. In some further examples, the exterior of the adjustable ring protector includes an inner surface comprising a inner surface texture and an outer surface comprising an outer surface texture, wherein the inner surface texture is different from the outer surface texture.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first example of an adjustable ring protector.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the adjustable ring protector shown in FIG. 1.

FIGS. 3A-3F are perspective views of the adjustable ring protector shown in FIG. 1 as worn by a user.

FIGS. 4A-4D are side views of the adjustable ring protector shown in FIG. 1 depicting additional textures on the adjustable ring protector.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are perspective views of a second example of an adjustable ring protector including a smooth texture and alternate end caps.

FIGS. 6A-6D are perspective views of a third example of an adjustable ring protector depicting alternate end caps.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a fourth example of an adjustable ring protector depicting an alternate ring profile.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a fifth example of an adjustable ring protector depicting an outer surface texture and an inner surface texture of the adjustable ring protector.

FIG. 9A-9D are perspective views of a sixth example of an adjustable ring protector including one or more charms.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The disclosed adjustable ring protectors will become better understood through review of the following detailed description in conjunction with the figures. The detailed description and figures provide merely examples of the various inventions described herein. Those skilled in the art will understand that the disclosed examples may be varied, modified, and altered without departing from the scope of the inventions described herein. Many variations are contemplated for different applications and design considerations; however, for the sake of brevity, each and every contemplated variation is not individually described in the following detailed description.

Throughout the following detailed description, examples of various adjustable ring protectors are provided. Related features in the examples may be identical, similar, or dissimilar in different examples. For the sake of brevity, related features will not be redundantly explained in each example. Instead, the use of related feature names will cue the reader that the feature with a related feature name may be similar to the related feature in an example explained previously. Features specific to a given example will be described in that particular example. The reader should understand that a given feature need not be the same or similar to the specific portrayal of a related feature in any given figure or example.

Definitions

The following definitions apply herein, unless otherwise indicated.

“Substantially” means to be more-or-less conforming to the particular dimension, range, shape, concept, or other aspect modified by the term, such that a feature or component need not conform exactly. For example, a “substantially cylindrical” object means that the object resembles a cylinder, but may have one or more deviations from a true cylinder.

“Comprising,” “including,” and “having” (and conjugations thereof) are used interchangeably to mean including but not necessarily limited to, and are open-ended terms not intended to exclude additional elements or method steps not expressly recited.

Terms such as “first”, “second”, and “third” are used to distinguish or identify various members of a group, or the like, and are not intended to denote a serial, chronological, or numerical limitation.

“Coupled” means connected, either permanently or releasably, whether directly or indirectly through intervening components.

“Communicatively coupled” means that an electronic device exchanges information with another electronic device, either wirelessly or with a wire-based connector, whether directly or indirectly through a communication network.

“Controllably coupled” means that an electronic device controls operation of another electronic device.

Adjustable Ring Protector

With reference to the figures, adjustable ring protectors will now be described. The adjustable ring protectors discussed herein function to prevent loss of a ring while worn on a digit of a user. The adjustable ring protectors discussed below further function to protect the ring while worn on the user's digit.

The reader will appreciate from the figures and description below that the presently disclosed adjustable ring protectors address many of the shortcomings of conventional ring protectors. For example, the adjustable ring protectors disclosed herein include a deformable material inside the adjustable ring protector allowing for the user to adjust the adjustable ring protector to more precisely, securely, and/or snuggly fit their digit to address the problems associated with standard ring sizes of conventional ring protectors. As a result, the adjustable ring protectors significantly reduce the likelihood of loss of the ring that result from set ring sizes of conventional ring protectors as these set ring sizes may not fit securely to the user's digit.

The adjustability and resulting secure fit of the adjustable ring protectors allows the user to engage in more activities where use of conventional ring protectors may result in loss of the ring. For example, such activities include, but are not limited to, water activities, such as swimming, surfing, snorkeling, and the like, strenuous activities, such as biking, tennis, skiing, and the like, and leisure activities, such as gardening. The user may also tighten or loosen the adjustable ring protector as required by the activity they are engaging in or as the day progresses and their digits swell or shrink.

Additionally, the adjustability of adjustable ring protectors reduces cost for the user. Conventional ring protectors are fixed in their size; thus, users must acquire multiple conventional ring protectors to fit each digit on which they wear their rings. With the disclosed adjustable ring protectors, the user can adjust the adjustable ring protector to fit each digit thus saving the user the expense of purchasing multiple conventional ring protectors.

The adjustable ring protectors also improve comfort by being clad in a comfortable, flexible, and/or soft material. As a result, even with a snug fit to the user's digit, the adjustable ring protector feels comfortable and won't dig into or irritate the user's digit. Conventional adjustable rings are made of metal and when adjusted for a snug fit on the user's digit may dig into the user's digit causing discomfort. Furthermore, the metal of conventional adjustable rings may adversely react with the user's ring, causing damage to the user's ring.

In addition, the adjustable ring protector's soft exterior material encases and protects the interior, deformable material. This allows for the entire adjustable ring protector to be heat and water resistance. The soft exterior material is pliable enough to allow the deformability of the interior material while maintaining the general, overall shape of a ring to be worn on the digit of the user. Thus, the interior, deformable material may be easier to deform as the exterior material will assist in maintaining the adjustable ring protector's shape. In contrast, conventional adjustable rings have stiffer metals to retain their ring shapes before and after adjusting resulting in the metal being more difficult to deform to get an appropriate fit to the user's digit. The metal may also sustain more damage from water, such as salt water and chlorinated water, and from impact strikes while worn on the user's digit. The combination of the soft exterior material and a deformable interior material of the adjustable ring protector provides improvements the on the adjustability, fit, comfort, longevity, and appearance over conventional adjustable ring and conventional ring protectors.

The soft material of the adjustable ring protector's exterior may be composed of a silicone-type material, which provides additional benefits, such as being hypoallergenic, heat and water resistant, having a reduced or no smell, and environmentally friendly. Additionally, the silicone-type material provides an improved grip, further securing the adjustable ring protector to the user's digit. A texture of the silicone-type material also may aid to secure the adjustable ring protector to the user's digit. The texture may provide additional grip, adding to the other features which allow for the adjustable ring protector's snug fit to the user's digit. In addition, the texture may compliment the design of the user's ring, making the adjustable ring protector more desirable for a user that does not want a ring protector that distracts from or obscures the ring.

Another improvement over conventional ring protectors is that the adjustable ring protectors function to protect the user's ring from damage. For example, the adjustable ring protector may have a thicker profile and thus protrudes past the user's ring while worn on the user's digit. This additional height of the adjustable ring protector protects the user's ring, as anything striking the user's digit would impact the adjustable ring protector first. The soft exterior material of the adjustable ring protector may also act as a shock absorber, further protecting the user's ring.

Adjustable Ring Protector Embodiment One

With reference to FIGS. 1-4, an adjustable ring protector 100 will now be described as a first example of an adjustable ring protector. As depicted in FIG. 1, adjustable ring protector 100 includes first ring shape 102, first end 104, second end 106, first open space 108, first end cap 110, second end cap 112, exterior 114, surface 116, and texture 118. As depicted in FIG. 2, adjustable ring protector 100 includes cross-section 120, further depicting at least one exterior material 122, interior 124, at least one interior material 126, and profile 128. As depicted in FIGS. 3A-3F, adjustable ring protector 100 includes second ring shape 130 and second open space 132. Also depicted in FIGS. 3A-3D is digit 134 of the user, front 136 of the digit 134, back 138 of the digit 134, and ring 140 with at least one stone 142. As depicted in FIGS. 4A-4D, adjustable ring protector 100 includes examples of texture 118.

In some examples, the adjustable ring protector does not include one or more features included in adjustable ring protector 100. For example, some adjustable ring protector examples do not include the first end cap 110 and the second end cap 112. In other examples, the adjustable ring protector includes additional or alternative components than depicted in the figures.

First Ring Shape

As shown in FIG. 1, first ring shape 102 is a circular ring shape with the first open space 108 defining space between the first end 104 and the second end 106. The first ring shape 102 may also be described as an open ring shape. The first end 104 is disposed opposite from, and substantially parallel to, the second end 106 with the first open space 108 disposed between the first end 104 and the second end 106. This configuration continues the circular ring shape.

The profile 128 of the adjustable ring 100 is circular, as depicted in FIGS. 1 through 3F. However, cross-section 120, as shown in FIG. 2, provides the clearest illustration of the circular profile. For simplicity, the texture 118 is not shown in the cross-sectional view 120 of FIG. 2. The adjustable ring protector 100 may have other profiles, as depicted in FIG. 7 and discussed below.

End Caps

As shown in FIG. 1, the first end cap 110 couples to the first end 104 and the second end cap 112 couples to the second end 106. When the adjustable ring protector 100 includes end caps 110, 112, the first open space 108 is disposed between the first end cap 110 and the second end cap 112, whereby first end cap 110 is disposed opposite from, and substantially parallel to, the second end cap 112. The first end cap 110 and the second end cap 112 provide for comfortable termination points of the adjustable ring protector 100. The end caps 110, 112 may also function to assist in holding the adjustable ring protector 100 to the user's digit. The composition of the end caps 110, 112 may also assist in holding the adjustable ring protector 100 to the user's digit, which is discussed below. This can be seen in more detail in FIGS. 3A-3F and discussed in more detail below. The end caps 110, 112 may also aesthetically compliment the user's ring through different colors, shapes, and sizes of the end caps 110, 112, as shown in FIGS. 6A-6D and discussed below.

The end caps 110, 112 may be comprised of the same material as the exterior 114. In one example, the end caps 110, 112 and at least one exterior material 122, discussed below, form a continuous unit. In another example, the end caps 110, 112 are removably coupled from the ends 104, 106. These and other examples are discussed in more detail with reference to FIGS. 6A-6D below.

Exterior

As shown in FIG. 2, adjustable ring protector 100 includes the exterior 114 of the adjustable ring protector 100, the surface 116 of the exterior 114, and the texture 118 of the surface 116. The surface 114 of the adjustable ring protector 100 may or may not include texture 116. The term “texture” is meant to include a pattern, design, decoration, imprint, and/or texture of the exterior 114 of the adjustable ring protector 100. The reader can see in FIGS. 1 through 3F that the texture 118 is twisted design. Other examples of textures 118 are discussed in more detail with reference to FIGS. 4A-4D below.

The exterior 114 includes at least one exterior material 122. In one example, the at least one exterior material 122 is comprised of silicone material currently known or later developed type of silicone. Silicone is used for its many benefits, including, but not necessarily limited to, being hypoallergenic, heat and water resistant, no or reduced odor, and environmentally friendly. Additional benefits of silicone, in particular, include flexibility for the adjustability of the adjustable ring protector 100, high friction gripping surface, softness and lightweight for comfort of the user and protection of the user's ring, and shape retention of the profile 128 of adjustable ring protector 100. Examples of the silicone material include, but not necessarily limited to, food grade silicone material, which is FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approved and/or LFGB (Lebensmittel, Bedarfsgegenstände und Futtermittelgesetzbuch, or “Foods, Consumer Goods and Feedstuffs Code”) approved, and liquid silicone rubber or gel as used in injection molding. In other examples, the at least one exterior material 122 is comprised of a non-silicone type of material, or combination of materials, but has similar benefits and properties as the silicone.

Interior

As shown in the cross-section 120 of FIG. 2, the adjustable ring protector 100 includes interior 124 and at least one interior material 126. The at least one interior material 126 is comprised of a deformable material including, but not limited to, the following properties: flexible to be minimally deformed into a shape to be worn on a digit 134 of a user, strength to maintain the shape, and durable not to break after multiple deformations and changing of shapes. In one example, the deformable material is metal currently known or later developed type of metal. In other examples, the deformable material is a non-metal material with similar benefits and properties as metal.

To accommodate a variety of ring shapes, one or both of the materials 122, 126 include properties which allow flexibility, but only produce minimal deformation. As defined herein, minimal deformation, and minimally deform, is a property of one or both of the at least one exterior material 122 and/or the at least one interior material 126 such that the two materials 122, 126 are configured such that the adjustable ring protector 100 cannot be adjusted into a shape which cannot be worn on a digit 134 of the user. For example, the adjustable ring protector 100 cannot be straightened or otherwise adjusted into shapes that do not conform to the digit 134 of the user.

The exterior and interior materials 122, 126 may include additional materials such as, but not necessarily limited to, adhesion materials and/or materials to enhance the properties of one or both the exterior and interior materials 122, 126, silicone and metal, as discussed above.

Second Ring Shape

The exterior 114 and the interior 124 of the adjustable ring protector 100 as discussed above are configured to maintain the first ring shape 102 and support adjusting the adjustable ring protector 100 into a second ring shape 130. The reader can see in FIGS. 3A and 3B one example of the adjustable ring protector 100 as worn on a user's digit 134 with the ring 140 after adjustment by the user for a snug fit to digit 124. The adjustable ring protector 100 as shown is worn above the ring 140 on the user's digit 134 to prevent loss of the ring 140. The digit 134 shown is the user's finger, but the digit 134 may also be the user's toe. As shown in FIG. 3A, the ring 140 is worn on the user's digit 134 such that the at least one stone 142 is situated on the front 136 of the user's digit 134 with the adjustable ring protector 100 above the ring 140. The adjustable ring protector 100 has been adjusted into the second ring shape 130 to fit snuggly to the user's digit 134. As shown in FIG. 3B, the end caps 110, 112 are situated on the back 138 of the user's digit 134, but still above the ring 140. In the example shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, both the first ring shape 102 and the second ring shape 130 are circular ring shapes (also known as open ring shapes). In other examples, the end caps, 110, 112, may be situated anywhere on the front 136 or back 138 of the user's digit 134.

The reader can see in FIGS. 3C and 3D the adjustable ring protector 100 before the user adjusts it (FIG. 3C) and after the user adjusts it for a snug fit to their digit 134 (FIG. 3D, an exploded view of FIG. 3B). After the user adjusts the adjustable ring protector 100 to snugly fit their digit 134, the second ring shape 130 is created. The second ring shape 130 includes a second open space 132 disposed between the first end cap 110 and the second end cap 112. The first open space 108 is less than the second open space 132, such that the first end cap 110 and the second end cap 112 are now situated closer together. With the second open space 132, the first end cap 110 remains disposed opposite from, and substantially parallel to, the second end cap 112, such that the second ring shape 130 retains the same circular ring shape as the first ring shape 102.

Not shown is a scenario where the user's digit 134 is too large for the adjustable ring protector 100 configured with the first ring shape 102 and the first open space 108. The user first adjusts the adjustable ring protector 100 to widen the first open space 108 to be placed on the user's digit 134. In this scenario, the first adjustment to allow the adjustable ring protector 100 to be placed on the user's digit 134 becomes the first ring shape 102 with the first open space 108. The user then proceeds to adjust the adjustable ring protector 100 for a snug fit to the user's digit 134 as discussed above.

In other examples, the second ring shape 130 differs from the first ring shape 102. As shown in FIGS. 3E and 3F, the second ring shape 130 forms a wrap shape. For this example, the first ring shape 102 is described above with reference to FIG. 3C. The adjustable ring protector 100 on the user's digit 134 after adjustment is disclosed in FIGS. 3E and 3F. As shown in FIG. 3E, the adjustable ring protector 100 crosses over the ring 140 on the back 138 of the user's digit 134. This allows for the adjustable ring protection 100 to secure the ring 140 to the user's digit 134. As shown in FIG. 3F, the first end 104 of the adjustable ring protector 100 is situated above the ring 140 on the front 136 of the user's digit 134. The second end 106 of the adjustable ring protector 100 is situated below the ring 140 on the front 136 of the user's digit 134. The first end cap 110 is situated cater-corner from the second end cap 112 across the at least one stone 142. This allows for the adjustable ring protector to further secure the ring 140 by buttressing the at least one stone 142 between the end caps 110, 112. In another example, the first end 104 of the adjustable ring protector 100 is situated below the ring 140 and the second end 106 of the adjustable ring protector 100 is situated above the ring 140 on the front 136 of the user's digit 134. The first end cap 110 remains cater-corner from the second end cap 112 across the at least one stone 142.

In other examples, the wrap configuration of the second ring shape 130 may be worn such that the end caps 110, 112 do not buttress the at least one main stone 142. In those examples, the end caps 110, 112 (or ends 104, 106 if no end caps 110, 112 are present) may be situated anywhere on either side of the ring, such that the end caps 110, 112 remain catty-corner from one another, but across a different portion of the ring 140. This example may also be used for rings without the at least one stone 142.

In yet other examples, the second ring shape 130 forms a helix shape. For this example, the first ring shape 102 is as described above with reference to FIG. 3C and the back 138 of the user's digit 134 with the adjustable ring protector 100 and the ring 140 are as described above with reference to FIG. 3D. The helix configuration of the second ring shape 130 may be worn such that the ends 104, 106 remain on opposite sides of the ring 140 in a manner similar to that shown in FIG. 3F, but the ends 104, 106 surpass each other. The end caps 110, 112 remain cater-corner from each other and buttress the at least one main stone 142, but at different points of the at least one stone 142 from that shown in FIG. 3F. Additional second ring shapes 130 not disclosed herein may also be used which produce the benefits of the adjustable ring protector disclosed above.

Texture

The reader can see in FIGS. 4A-4D examples of different textures 118. FIG. 4A discloses a braided texture 400. FIG. 4B discloses a basket weave texture 402. FIG. 4C discloses diamond shapes extending outwardly from the ring 140 in a repeated pattern 404. Other types of shapes may also be used in conjunction with, or in lieu, of the diamond shapes. FIG. 4D discloses a beaded strand shape 406. The textures 118 disclosed in FIGS. 4A-4D represent a few examples of textures 118 for the exterior 114 of the adjustable ring protector 100. The reader will appreciate that a variety of textures exist and could be used in place of the textures shown in the figures.

The texture 118 may not extend through the exterior 114 to the interior 124. As shown in FIG. 2, the intersection of the exterior 114 and the interior 124 (shown as the circle enclosing the interior 124) does not comprise any of the textures 118 as shown in FIGS. 1-4D. In some examples, the texture is stamped, pressed, or otherwise inlayed onto the surface 116 of the exterior 114. In other examples, the texture 118 is created through an injection mold type process whereby the only surface 116 contains the texture 118. In other examples, a texture 118 comprises a separate component from the least one exterior material 122 and is coupled to the surface 116 of the exterior 114.

Additional Embodiments

With reference to the figures not yet discussed, the discussion will now focus on additional adjustable ring protector embodiments. The additional embodiments include many similar or identical features to adjustable ring protector 100. Thus, for the sake of brevity, each feature of the additional embodiments below will not be redundantly explained. Rather, key distinctions between the additional embodiments and adjustable ring protector 100 will be described in detail and the reader should reference the discussion above for features substantially similar between the different adjustable ring protector examples.

Adjustable Ring Protector Second Embodiment

Turning attention to FIGS. 5A-5B, a second set of examples of an adjustable ring protector, adjustable ring protector 500, 520, will now be described. As can be seen in FIG. 5A-5B, adjustable ring protector 500, 520 includes a texture 514, 534 with a smooth surface. In other examples, the texture 514, 534 includes a rough surface, such as a lightweight sandpaper. The rough surface may not result in a notably visible texture but may provide the additional gripping feature similar to that of the visible textures disclosed above.

A distinction between adjustable ring protector 520, as shown in FIG. 5B, and adjustable ring protectors 100. 500, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5A, is that the adjustable ring protector 520 includes end caps 526, 528 with end cap shapes 530, 532 which do not expand from the ends 522, 524 in the same manner as end caps 506, 508 with end cap shapes 510, 512. As shown in FIG. 5B, the end caps 530, 532 appear as extensions of the exterior 114. The end caps 530, 532 may be comprised of the same material as the exterior 114. The end caps 530, 532 may be removably coupled to the ends 526, 528.

Adjustable Ring Protector Third Embodiment

Turning attention to FIGS. 6A-6D, a third example of an adjustable ring protector, adjustable ring protector 600, will now be described. As can be seen in FIGS. 6A-6C, adjustable ring protector 600 includes a variety of end cap shapes 610, 612, 618, 620, 626, 628. As shown in FIG. 6A, the adjustable ring protector 600 includes first end 602, second end 604, first end cap 606 with first end cap shape 610, and second end cap 608 with second end cap shape 612. The first end cap 606 may be coupled to the first end 602 permanently or removably. Similarly, the second end cap 608 may be coupled to the second end 604 permanently or removably. The end cap shapes 610, 612 are oblong. This oblong shape may be desirable for users not wanting the end caps 610, 612 to protrude as far from the adjustable ring protector 600 as the end caps 110, 112 of adjustable ring protector 100.

As shown in FIG. 6B, the adjustable ring protector 600 includes first end cap 614 with first end cap shape 618, and second end cap 616 with second end cap shape 620. The first end cap 614 may be coupled to the first end 602 permanently or removably. Similarly, the second end cap 616 may be coupled to the second end 604 permanently or removably. The first end cap shape 618 is a star and the second end cap shape 620 is a moon. In other examples, the end cap shapes 618, 620 may also be other complimentary shapes, such as two halves of a heart.

As shown in FIG. 6C, the adjustable ring protector 600 includes first end cap 622 with first end cap shape 626, and second end cap 624 with second end cap shape 628. The first end cap 622 may be coupled to the first end 602 permanently or removably. Similarly, the second end cap 624 may be coupled to the second end 604 permanently or removably. The end cap shapes 626, 628 are flowers. In other examples, each end cap shapes 626, 628 may each be a different flower. The reader will appreciate that a variety of end cap shapes exist and could be used in place of the end caps shown shown in the figures.

As shown in FIG. 6D, the adjustable ring protector 600 includes first end cap 630 with first end cap shape 634, and second end cap 632 with second end cap shape 636. The first end cap 630 is permanently coupled to the first end 602, as the first end cap 630 is an extension of the exterior 114. Similarly, the second end cap 632 is permanently coupled to the second end 604, as the first end cap 630 is an extension of the exterior 114. The end cap shapes 634, 636 are extensions of the shape of the texture 118, which as shown in FIG. 6D is a twisted texture terminating in the end of the twist as end cap shapes 634, 636. In another example, the adjustable ring protector 600 excludes the end caps and the texture 118 terminates at the ends 602, 604.

In other examples, the end caps couple to each other after adjusting to securely fit to the user's digit 134. The first end cap shape interlocks with the second end cap shape in a similar fashion as a puzzle piece. The interlocking function of the end cap shapes provides an additional way to securely fit the adjustable ring protector 600 to the user's digit 134. In another example, the end caps are magnetized and couple together when brought close enough together while adjusting the adjustable ring protector 600.

In other examples, the end caps are interchangeable. The first end cap 614 with the star shape 618 may be removed and replaced with the first end cap 622 with the flower shape 626. Numerous configurations may be realized from mixing and matching end caps. The end caps may also compliment the ring 140. For example, the color of the end caps may accentuate the color of the at least one stone 142. In another example, the shapes of the end caps may cradle or otherwise interact with a feature of the ring 140, such as the at least one main stone 142.

Adjustable Ring Protector Fourth Embodiment

Turning attention to FIG. 7, a fourth example of an adjustable ring protector, adjustable ring protector 700, will now be described. As can be seen in FIG. 7, adjustable ring protector 700 includes a profile 702 distinct from the profile 128 of adjustable ring 100. Profile 702 is commonly known as a double-comfort profile with curved and rounded edges. As discussed above, profile 128 is a circular profile or sometimes referred to as a halo. Profile 702 of the adjustable ring protector 700 may be other known ring profiles. These profiles include, but not necessarily limited to, comfort, D-shaped, flat, traditional court, flat court, flat-sided court, concave, and convex. The ends 704, 706 and corresponding end caps 708, 710 may also follow the same shape as the profile 702 in a similar manner as circular profile 128 with round end caps 110, 112.

Adjustable Ring Protector Fifth Embodiment

Turning attention to FIG. 8, a fifth example of an adjustable ring protector, adjustable ring protector 800, will now be described. As can be seen in FIG. 8, adjustable ring protector 800 includes exterior 802, outer surface 804, outer surface texture 806, inner portion 808, inner surface 810, inner surface texture 812, and profile 814. A distinction between adjustable ring protector 800 and adjustable ring protector 100 is that the exterior surface texture 806 and the inner surface texture 812 comprise different textures. As shown in FIG. 7, exterior surface texture 806 is a twisted texture, similar to texture 118 of adjustable ring protector 100, and interior surface texture 812 is a smooth texture, similar to texture 514 of adjustable ring protector 500. In some examples, the exterior surface texture 806 is smooth the inner surface texture 812 is non-smooth texture. In yet other examples, the transition between the exterior surface texture 806 and the inner surface texture 812 is less abrupt as shown in FIG. 7. The exterior surface texture 806 and the inner surface texture 812 may complement each other providing for a smoother transition.

Adjustable Ring Protector Sixth Embodiment

Turning attention to FIGS. 9A-9D, a sixth example of an adjustable ring protector, adjustable ring protector 900, will now be described. As can be seen in FIGS. 9A-9D, adjustable ring protector 900 includes one or more charms 914, 924, 934, 936, 946. The reader can see in FIGS. 9A-9D, that four charms are coupled to the adjustable ring protector 900 and each charm is situated equidistance from the other charms and the end caps. However, any number of charms may be coupled to the adjustable ring protector. The one or more charms may include similar shapes as their respective end cap shapes. As shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, the end caps and the one or more charms are the same size and shapes. The end cap shapes 910, 912 disclosed in FIG. 9A are flowers and the one or more charms 914 are also flowers. The end cap shapes 920, 922 disclosed in FIG. 9B are hearts and the one or more charms 924 are also hearts.

In other examples, the charms may not match the end cap shapes. The end cap shapes 930, 932 disclosed in FIG. 9C are a star and moon, respectively, and the one or more charms 934 are stars and the one or more charms 936 are moons. The star charms 934 alternate with the moon charms 936 on the adjustable ring protector 900. The end cap shapes 942, 944 disclosed in FIG. 9D are smiley faces and the one or more charms 946 are also smiley faces. The reader will appreciate that a variety of charm shapes exist and could be used in place of the shapes shown in the figures.

As shown in FIGS. 9A-9D, the one or more charms are coupled directly to the adjustable ring protector. In other examples, the one or more charms may be coupled in a manner similar to charm bracelets, where the charm is indirectly coupled to the bracelet. The one or more charms may be releasably coupled, directly or indirectly, to the adjustable ring protector 900. The one or more charms may be interchangeable and mixed and matched, or removed if desired. As shown in FIG. 9D, the texture 948 is smooth. The reader will appreciate that a variety of textures exist and could be used in place of the textures shown in the figures.

The disclosure above encompasses multiple distinct inventions with independent utility. While each of these inventions has been disclosed in a particular form, the specific embodiments disclosed and illustrated above are not to be considered in a limiting sense as numerous variations are possible. The subject matter of the inventions includes all novel and non-obvious combinations and subcombinations of the various elements, features, functions and/or properties disclosed above and inherent to those skilled in the art pertaining to such inventions. Where the disclosure or subsequently filed claims recite “a” element, “a first” element, or any such equivalent term, the disclosure or claims should be understood to incorporate one or more such elements, neither requiring nor excluding two or more such elements.

Applicant(s) reserves the right to submit claims directed to combinations and subcombinations of the disclosed inventions that are believed to be novel and non-obvious. Inventions embodied in other combinations and subcombinations of features, functions, elements and/or properties may be claimed through amendment of those claims or presentation of new claims in the present application or in a related application. Such amended or new claims, whether they are directed to the same invention or a different invention and whether they are different, broader, narrower or equal in scope to the original claims, are to be considered within the subject matter of the inventions described herein.