초록 ▼

A jewelry article includes an interchangeable setting, a shank or body, and a capture module. The shank defines a mounting area that holds the setting on the shank except substantially along one axis when the setting is positioned in the mounting area. The capture module couples on the shank. For ex

A jewelry article includes an interchangeable setting, a shank or body, and a capture module. The shank defines a mounting area that holds the setting on the shank except substantially along one axis when the setting is positioned in the mounting area. The capture module couples on the shank. For example, the module can include a slot fitting on a portion of the shank. When the module is coupled on the shank, the module prevents removal of the setting from the mounting area substantially along the one axis. When worn by a wearer, the finger of the wearer, for example, maintains the module coupled to the shank so that the setting is captured on the jewelry article.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A jewelry article worn by a wearer, comprising: an interchangeable setting; a body defining a mounting area, the mounting area holding the setting on the body except substantially along one axis when at least a portion of the setting is positioned in the area; and a module di

What is claimed is: 1. A jewelry article worn by a wearer, comprising: an interchangeable setting; a body defining a mounting area, the mounting area holding the setting on the body except substantially along one axis when at least a portion of the setting is positioned in the area; and a module discrete from the setting, said module slidably coupling on the body from a direction other than along the one axis and preventing removal of the setting from the mounting area substantially along the one axis and wherein said module has at least two sides that define a capture area, wherein the body defines a recessed portion that includes a bridge positioned between the mounting area and an opening for wearing the article, and wherein a portion of the module fits onto the bridge from the opening for wearing the article. 2. The jewelry article of claim 1, wherein the body has first and second sides and wherein the mounting area is defined through the body from the first side to the second side. 3. The jewelry article of claim 2, wherein portions of the body forming the mounting area to hold the setting are positioned along the two axes substantially orthogonal to the one axis. 4. The jewelry article of claim 3, wherein the mounting area is at least partially open along one of the substantially orthogonal axes to the one axis. 5. The jewelry article of claim 4, wherein the mounting area is defined by a radius and has a circumferential dimension at least greater than half of a circle. 6. The jewelry article of claim 5, wherein the at least a portion of setting includes a portion of a sphere, disk, or cylinder. 7. The jewelry article of claim 1, wherein the module defines a slot coupling with a portion of the body. 8. The jewelry article of claim 1, wherein the module is removable from the body such that the module is interchangeable. 9. The jewelry article of claim 1, wherein the module is fixedly and movably coupled to the body. 10. The jewelry article of claim 9, further comprising a biasing member biasing the module to capture the interchangeable setting. 11. The jewelry article of claim 1, wherein the module has at least one portion positioning at least partially adjacent the setting to prevent removal of the setting from the mounting area substantially along the one axis. 12. The jewelry article of claim 1, wherein the module has at least two portions positioning at least partially adjacent at least two portions of the setting to prevent removal of the setting from the mounting area substantially along the one axis. 13. The jewelry article of claim 12, wherein the at least two portions of the module include sides of the module positioning at least partially adjacent the at least two portions of the setting in the mounting area. 14. The jewelry article of claim 1, wherein the module remains mechanically coupled on the body by the wearer when the jewelry article is worn. 15. A jewelry article for a wearer, comprising: an interchangeable setting; means for holding the setting except substantially in both directions along one axis; means discrete from the setting for preventing removal of the setting substantially along the one axis; and means for slidably coupling together the means for holding the setting and the means for preventing removal of the setting such that the interchangeable setting is substantially captured on the jewelry article, wherein said slidable coupling comprises sliding movement in a direction underneath the setting and other than along the one axis. 16. The jewelry article of claim 15, wherein the means for slidably coupling includes means for interchangeably fitting a first portion of the preventing means onto a second portion of the holding means. 17. The jewelry article of claim 15, wherein the means for slidably coupling includes means for fixedly and movably coupling the holding means to the preventing means. 18. The jewelry article of claim 16, wherein the means for fixedly and movably coupling further includes means for biasing the preventing means into engagement with the holding means. 19. The jewelry article of claim 15, further comprising means for maintaining the preventing means and the holding means mechanically coupled together by the wearer when the jewelry article is worn. 20. A jewelry article worn by a wearer, comprising: an interchangeable setting; a body defining a mounting area, the mounting area holding the setting on the body except substantially along one axis when at least a portion of the setting is positioned in the area; a module discrete from the setting, said module slidably coupling on the body from a direction other than along the one axis and preventing removal of the setting from the mounting area substantially along the one axis, wherein the module defines a slot coupling with a portion of the body; and wherein the portion of the body includes a bridge of the body positioned between the mounting area and an opening for wearing the article, and wherein the slot of the module fits onto the bridge from the opening for wearing the article. 21. A jewelry article worn by a wearer, comprising: an interchangeable setting; a body defining a mounting area, the mounting area holding the setting on the body except substantially along one axis when at least a portion of the setting is positioned in the area; and a module discrete from the setting, said module slidably coupling on the body from a direction other than along the one axis and preventing removal of the setting from the mounting area substantially along the one axis, wherein the module magnetically couples to the body by one or more magnets in addition to mechanically coupling to the body. 22. A jewelry article for a wearer, comprising: an interchangeable setting; means for holding the setting except substantially along one axis; means discrete from the setting for preventing removal of the setting substantially along the one axis; and means for slidably coupling together the means for holding the setting and the means for preventing removal of the setting such that the interchangeable setting is substantially captured on the jewelry article, wherein said slidable coupling comprises sliding movement in a direction other than along the one axis and wherein the means for slidably coupling further includes means for magnetically coupling the holding means to the preventing means. 23. A jewelry article for an interchangeable setting, comprising: a body defining a mounting area, the mounting area holding the setting except substantially along one axis when at least a portion of the setting is positioned in the area; and a module discrete from the setting, said module slidably coupling on the body from underneath the setting in a direction other than along the one axis and holding the setting in the mounting area substantially along the one axis, wherein the module includes an arm inserting into a bore in the setting. 24. A jewelry article worn by a wearer, comprising: an interchangeable setting; a body defining a mounting area, the mounting area holding the setting on the body except substantially along one axis when at least a portion of the setting is positioned in the area; and a module discrete from the setting, said module slidably coupling on the body from a direction other than along the one axis and preventing removal of the setting from the mounting area substantially along the one axis and wherein the module includes an arm inserting into a bore in the interchangeable setting, wherein the body defines a recessed portion that includes a bridge positioned between the mounting area and an opening for wearing the article, and wherein a portion of the module fits onto the bridge from the opening for wearing the article.