Openable ring with unique locking and release means

Claim 1

A ring to be worn as an article of jewelry about a portion of a body of a person, said ring comprising: a first rigid arcuate section having an arcuate inner surface, a substantially T-shaped recess in said first arcuate section extending along a portion of the arc of said first arcuate section and having an outer head portion of a wider transverse dimension than an inner stem portion, said head portion and stem portion being joined through upwardly facing, transversely extending support surfaces forming part of said recess, said recess having an open free end with the inner stem portion of said recess including an opening along said arcuate inner surface for communicating with the interior of the ring, said first arcuate section including an access aperture extending through an outer surface adjacent a rear end of the substantially T-shaped recess and communicating with the outer head portion of said T-shaped recess; a second rigid arcuate section pivotably connected to said first arcuate section and having an inner surface and a rigid male extending member projecting therefrom, said male extending member including a distal portion having a transverse dimension receiveable within the stem portion of the recess through both the open free end of said recess and the opening along said arcuate inner surface of said recess, said male extending member further including a proximal portion having a substantially T-shaped transverse configuration including downwardly extending surfaces overlying the transversely extending support surfaces of the T-shaped recess when said arcuate sections are in a fully closed position, and latching means for maintaining the male extending member in a position fully inserted within said recess when the arcuate sections are in a fully closed position, said latching means including a spring element having a rear end attached to the male extending member and a forward locking section having a locking edge normally disposed within the access aperture when the arcuate sections are in a closed position to thereby maintain said arcuate sections in said closed position, a rear surface of said T-shaped recess being inclined and engageable by a surface of the spring element when the section of said spring element located in the access aperture is biased inwardly out of alignment with the access aperture to thereby provide a force between the arcuate sections in a direction for opening said arcuate sections.