82b opposite and substantially parallel to one another. First member 82 further includes a peripheral edge 82c that extends vertically between the top surface 82a and the bottom surface 82b. The peripheral edge 82c may also be continuous with and substantially perpendicular to top surface 82a and bottom surface 82b. Peripheral edge 82c also defines a first receiver outer diameter “ROD1” of first member 82 (FIG. 6).

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 6A, second member 84 extends from the first member 82. Particularly, the second member 84 extends vertically downward from the bottom surface 82b of the first member 82 and ends at a bottom surface 84a of second member 84. Bottom surface 84a is opposite to and substantially parallel to top surface 82a and bottom surface 82b of first member 82. Second member 84 further includes an outer surface 84b that extends vertically between the bottom surface 82b of first member 82 and bottom surface 84a of second member 84. Outer surface 84b may also be continuous with and substantially perpendicular to bottom surface 82b of first member 82 and bottom surface 84a of second member 84. In the present disclosure, a second receiver outer diameter “ROD2” is also defined along an entire length of the second member 84 (FIG. 5); first receiver outer diameter “ROD1” of first member 82 is greater than second receiver outer diameter “ROD2” of second member 84 (FIG. 6).

First portion 80 further defines a first passage 86 extending through the first member 82 and second member 84. Specifically, first passage 86 extends from top surface 82a of first member 82 through the second member 84. The first member 82 and the second member 84 collectively define a first receiver inner diameter “RID1” for first passage 86 (FIG. 6).

Still referring to FIGS. 6, 6A, and 6B, second portion 100 includes a third member 102 and fourth member 104 continuous with one another. Third member 102 includes a top surface 102a and a bottom surface 102b opposite and substantially parallel to one another. Third member 102 further includes a peripheral edge 102c that extends vertically between the top surface 102a and the bottom surface 102b. The peripheral edge 102c may also be continuous with and substantially perpendicular to top surface 102a and bottom surface 102b. Peripheral edge 102c also defines a third receiver outer diameter “ROD3” of third member 102 (FIG. 6).

Referring to FIGS. 6A and 6B, fourth member 104 extends from the third member 102. Particularly, the fourth member 104 extends vertically upward from the bottom surface 102b of the third member 102 and ends at a top surface 104a of fourth member 104. Top surface 104a is opposite to and substantially parallel to top surface 102a and bottom surface 102b of third member 102. Fourth member 104 further includes an outer surface 104b that extends vertically between top surface 104a of third member 102 and top surface 104a of fourth member 104. Top surface 104a may also be continuous with and substantially perpendicular to top surface 102a of third member 102 and top surface 104a of fourth member 104. In the present disclosure, a fourth receiver outer diameter “ROD4” is also defined along an entire length of the fourth member 104 (FIG. 5); third receiver outer diameter “ROD3” of third member 102 is greater than fourth receiver outer diameter “ROD4” of fourth member 104 (FIG. 6).

Second portion 100 further defines a second passage 106 extending through the fourth member 104 and third member 102. Specifically, second passage 106 extends from top surface 104a of fourth member 104 through bottom surface 102b of third member 102. The third member 102 and the fourth member 104 also collectively define a second receiver inner diameter “RID2” for second passage 106 (FIG. 6).

Second portion 100 further includes a plurality of tines 108 extending upwardly from the top surface 102a of third member 102 and disposed adjacent to peripheral edge 102c. Plurality of tines 108 are equidistance space apart from one another along peripheral edge 102c of third member 102. It should be understood that second portion 100 may include any number of plurality of tines 108 and the following description of plurality of tines 108 should equally apply to any number of plurality of tines 108 included with the third member 102 of the second portion 100.

Referring now to FIG. 6B, each tine of the plurality of tines 108 generally defines a pentagonal shape when viewed from a sectional view (see FIG. 10). Each tine of the plurality of tines 108 includes a first face 108a and a second face 108b opposite and substantially parallel to one another. First face 108a is continuous with and extending outwardly from peripheral edge 102c of third member 102. Plurality of tines 108 further includes a third face 108c and a fourth face 108d opposite and substantially parallel to one another. Third face 108c and fourth face 108d are continuous and substantially perpendicular to first face 108a and second face 108b. Plurality of tines 108 even further includes a fifth face 108e and a sixth face 108f opposite one another and continuous with first face 108a, second face 108b, third face 108c, and fourth face 108d. Fifth face 108e and sixth face 108f are integrally engaged and define a tip 108g at the connection.

In one specific embodiment, second portion 100 includes six tines 108 spaced equidistant apart from one another along the peripheral edge 102c of third member 102. In other exemplary embodiments, second portion 100 may include any suitable number of tines that are space apart at any suitable distance relative to one another as dictated by the implementation of said tines. In other exemplary embodiments, each tine of a plurality of tines discussed herein may also define a suitable cross-sectional shape.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 6A, receiver 60 fixedly engages body 12 of bracelet 10. Specifically, receiver 60 is fixedly engages with the body 12 of bracelet 10 within receiver hole 18. First portion 80 of receiver 60 operably engages the body 12 where bottom surface 82b of first member 82 is contiguous with outer surface 12c of body 12 and second member 84 is contiguous with the body 12 inside of receiver hole 18. Second portion 100 of receiver 60 engages the body 12 where top surface 102a of third member 102 is contiguous with inner surface 12d of body 12. Second portion 100 of receiver 60 further engages the body 12 where the plurality of tines 108 penetrate into the body 12 external to the receiver hole 18. With such configuration, the receiver 60 captures a portion of the body 12 based on the clamping configuration performed by the first portion 80 and the second portion 100 inside of and external to the receiver hole 18. Once the receiver 60 is clamped onto the body 12 inside of receiver hole 8, a thickness “T2” of the receiver 60 defined as the distance between top surface 82a of first member 82 of first portion 80 and bottom surface 102b of third member 102 of second portion 100. The thickness “T2” of the receiver 60 is less than the thickness “T” of body 12 of bracelet 10.

Still referring to FIGS. 6 and 6A, tip 108g of plurality of tines 108 extend into body 12 where the tip 108g is contiguous with bottom surface 82b of first member 82. Furthermore, outer surface 104b of fourth member 104 of second portion 100 is contiguous with first passage 86 of first portion 80. Even furthermore, bottom surface 84a of second member 84 of first portion 80 is contiguous with top surface 102a of third member 102 of second portion 100. Lastly, top surface 104a of fourth member 104 of second portion 100 is substantially aligned with top surface 82a of first member 82 of first portion 80.

In one specific embodiment, the second outer diameter “OD2” of the first member 82 of first portion 80 is substantially equal to fourth outer diameter “OD4” of the fourth member 104 of second portion 100. Further in this specific embodiment, the first inner diameter “ID1” of the first passage 86 of the first portion 80 is slightly greater than the fifth outer diameter “OD5” of the fourth member 104 of the second portion 100 wherein the fourth member 104 of the second portion 100 may be received within the first passage 86 of the first member 82.

Referring now to FIG. 10, the locking mechanism 20 is depicted comprising screw 40 fully tightened into the receiver 60. Screw 40 and receiver 60 are operably engaged with one another and the relationship between screw 40 and receiver 60 is depicted more fully below.

When screw 40 is fully tightened into receiver 60, second shaft 48 of screw 40 is disposed within second passage 106 of the second portion 100 of receiver 60. Furthermore, bottom surface 46b of screw 40 is contiguous with top surface 82a of the first portion 80 of receiver 60. Even furthermore, fourth screw outer diameter “SOD4” of the second shaft 48 of the screw 40 is slightly less than the second receiver inner diameter “RID2” of second passage 106 of second portion 100 of receiver 60 wherein the second shaft 48 may be disposed within the second passage 106 of second portion 100 of receiver 60.

Having now described bracelet 10, a method of securing bracelet 10 on a portion of a wearer will now be described in greater detail.

Referring now to FIG. 7, a user may place the body 12 of the bracelet 10 about the wearer's extremity “W” by inserting the first end 12a of the body 12 of the bracelet 10 into the rectangular bore 14 of the body 12 in the direction of arrow “R” wherein the outer surface 12c of the body 12 near the first end 12a is disposed below the inner surface 12d of the body 12 near the plurality of screw holes 16. The user may then determine and select one of the plurality of screw holes 16 to insert the screw 40 to define a second inner diameter “IDB” of the bracelet 10, generally indicated at arrow “A”. The second inner diameter “IDB” of the bracelet 10 may substantially match a diameter “D” of a wearer's extremity “W” so that the bracelet 10 is maintained on the extremity.

Referring now to FIGS. 8A, 8B & 8C, the user may place the screw 40 into any one of the plurality of screw holes 16 by removing the screw 40 from a first one of the plurality of screw holes 16A in the direction of arrow “U” (FIG. 8A). Once the screw 40 is removed, the user may then move the screw 40 along the body 12 of the bracelet 10 (arrow “S” in FIG. 8B) until the screw 40 is positioned above a second one of the plurality of screw holes or a desired one of the plurality of screw holes 16B. Once above the desired hole of the plurality of screw holes 16B, the user may then push down in the direction of arrow “Q” (FIG. 8C) to insert the screw 40 into the second one of the plurality of screw holes 16B. The screw 40 is fully seated and engaged with the body 12 when the first flange 42 and the second flange 46 capture and engage with the outer surface 12c and the inner surface 12d of the body 12.

Once the screw 40 is placed in the second one of the plurality of screw holes 16B, the user may install the bracelet 10 onto the wearer's extremity “W”. As best seen in FIG. 9A, the user inserts the first end 12a of the body 12 of the bracelet 10 and the receiver 60 into the rectangular bore 14 of the body 12 in the direction of arrow “R” wherein the outer surface 12c of the body 12 near the first end 12a is disposed below the inner surface 12d of the body 12 near the plurality of screw holes 16. The user then guides the receiver 60 along the inner surface 12d of body 12 of bracelet 10. It should be understood that while we describe bracelet 10 being placed around a wearer's extremity it should be understood that bracelet 10 may be placed on any number of items such as a human's wrist, a human's ankle, or an animal.

Once the first end 12a and receiver 60 pass through the rectangular bore 14, the user may then align the screw 40 with the receiver 60 to secure the bracelet 10 to the wearer's extremity. Referring now to FIG. 9B, the user then secures the bracelet 10 about the wearer's extremity “W” by inserting external tool “K” into the socket 50 of the screw 40 and tightening the screw 40 into the receiver 60 in the direction of arrow “V”. As the screw 40 is tightened into the receiver 60, the outer surface 12c of the body 12 near the plurality of screw holes 16 of the body 12 is pulled closer to the inner surface 12d of the body 12 near the first end 12a in the direction of arrow “Y”. Once the screw 40 is fully tightened, the outer surface 12c of the body 12 near the plurality of screw holes 16 is contiguous with the inner surface 12d of the body 12 near the plurality of screw holes 16.

Having now described bracelet 10 and the method of securing bracelet 10 on a portion of a wearer, a method for protecting an at risk individual. will now be described in greater detail.

The user or another person places the bracelet 10 around the extremity of the at risk individual. The user or another person secures the bracelet around the extremity of the at risk individual with an locking mechanism 20 so that the bracelet 10 cannot be removed without an external tool “K.” The user or another person puts indicia on the bracelet relating to the at risk individual wearing the bracelet.

In one specific embodiment, the indicia may be on the outer surface 12c of the bracelet 10. Further in this specific embodiment, the indicia include at least one of health information, personal information, contact information and combinations thereof.

In another specific embodiment, the at risk individual may be one of a child, a physically hurt person, a lost person, a mentally challenged individual, a physically challenged individual or any combination thereof.

In yet another specific embodiment, the method for protecting an at risk individual may further comprise the steps of a bystander finding the at risk individual. The bystander the locating the bracelet 10 on the at risk individual and the bystander reading the information on the indicia on the bracelet 10. After locating the needed information on the indicia, the bystander may procure help for the wearer in need of help.

Unless explicitly stated that a particular shape or configuration of a component is mandatory, any of the elements, components, or structures discussed herein may take the form of any shape. Thus, although the figures depict the various elements, components, or structures of the present disclosure according to one or more exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that any other geometric configuration of that element, component, or structure is entirely possible. For example, instead of the plurality of tines 108 being pentagonal in shaft, the plurality of tines 108 can be semi-circular triangular, rectangular or square, pentagonal, hexagonal, heptagonal, octagonal, decagonal, dodecagonal, diamond shaped or another parallelogram, trapezoidal, star-shaped, oval, ovoid, lines or lined, teardrop-shaped, cross-shaped, donut-shaped, heart-shaped, arrow-shaped, crescent-shaped, any letter shape (i.e., A-shaped, B-shaped, C-shaped, D-shaped, E-shaped, F-shaped, G-shaped, H-shaped, I-shaped, J-shaped, K-shaped, L-shaped, M-shaped, N-shaped, O-shaped, P-shaped, Q-shaped, R-shaped, S-shaped, T-shaped, U-shaped, V-shaped, W-shaped, X-shaped, Y-shaped, or Z-shaped), or any other type of regular or irregular, symmetrical or asymmetrical configuration.

Various inventive concepts may be embodied as one or more methods, of which an example has been provided. The acts performed as part of the method may be ordered in any suitable way. Accordingly, embodiments may be constructed in which acts are performed in an order different than illustrated, which may include performing some acts simultaneously, even though shown as sequential acts in illustrative embodiments.

While various inventive embodiments have been described and illustrated herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily envision a variety of other means and/or structures for performing the function and/or obtaining the results and/or one or more of the advantages described herein, and each of such variations and/or modifications is deemed to be within the scope of the inventive embodiments described herein. More generally, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that all parameters, dimensions, materials, and configurations described herein are meant to be exemplary and that the actual parameters, dimensions, materials, and/or configurations will depend upon the specific application or applications for which the inventive teachings is/are used. Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific inventive embodiments described herein. It is, therefore, to be understood that the foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only and that, within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereto, inventive embodiments may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described and claimed. Inventive embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to each individual feature, system, article, material, kit, and/or method described herein. In addition, any combination of two or more such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods, if such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods are not mutually inconsistent, is included within the inventive scope of the present disclosure.

All definitions, as defined and used herein, should be understood to control over dictionary definitions, definitions in documents incorporated by reference, and/or ordinary meanings of the defined terms.

The articles “a” and “an,” as used herein in the specification and in the claims, unless clearly indicated to the contrary, should be understood to mean “at least one.” The phrase “and/or,” as used herein in the specification and in the claims (if at all), should be understood to mean “either or both” of the elements so conjoined, i.e., elements that are conjunctively present in some cases and disjunctively present in other cases. Multiple elements listed with “and/or” should be construed in the same fashion, i.e., “one or more” of the elements so conjoined. Other elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified by the “and/or” clause, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, a reference to “A and/or B”, when used in conjunction with open-ended language such as “comprising” can refer, in one embodiment, to A only (optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to B only (optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to both A and B (optionally including other elements); etc. As used herein in the specification and in the claims, “or” should be understood to have the same meaning as “and/or” as defined above. For example, when separating items in a list, “or” or “and/or” shall be interpreted as being inclusive, i.e., the inclusion of at least one, but also including more than one, of a number or list of elements, and, optionally, additional unlisted items. Only terms clearly indicated to the contrary, such as “only one of” or “exactly one of,” or, when used in the claims, “consisting of,” will refer to the inclusion of exactly one element of a number or list of elements. In general, the term “or” as used herein shall only be interpreted as indicating exclusive alternatives (i.e. “one or the other but not both”) when preceded by terms of exclusivity, such as “either,” “one of,” “only one of,” or “exactly one of.” “Consisting essentially of,” when used in the claims, shall have its ordinary meaning as used in the field of patent law.