Technical Field
[0001] The present disclosure relates to jewelry storing small box.
Background Art
[0002] U.S. Pat. No. 9,375,066 being shown herein as Patent Document 1, discloses a ring box 100 having a ring holder
106 in the ring box and a rotating arrangement 108 for rotating the ring holder when
the box is opened and closed, as shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C. The rotating mechanism
108 causes the ring holder to rotate the ring into a ninety degree angularly displaced
position when the ring box is closed, semi-open, and open, as shown in the figures
9A, 9B and 9C. However, this rotation mechanism does not displace the distance of
the ring holder relative to the ring box and raise the ring away from the ring box,
so that the ring box, when opened, cannot present a significant visual effect to impress
the person presenting the ring.
[0003] Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open Publication No.
H06-3126 being shown herein as Patent Document 2, discloses a jewelry box having a transparent
cover so that when the cover is closed, the inside jewelry can be seen to rotate,
and it is stated that this gives the jewelry a luxurious, pleasant and surprising
visual effect. When the cover of the gemstone is opened, the rotation of the gemstone
stops. The jewelry box does not have any visual effect being exposed from the jewelry
box when the jewelry box is opened.
[0004] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication
H06-298266 being shown herein as Patent Document 3, discloses a small box having a movable element
for moving a contained article into at least partially raised exposed display position
with an opening in the lid. However, since the movable element does not pivot the
article about the axis in the thickness direction of the small box when the lid is
opened and closed, there is no visual effect to be exposed from the small box when
the lid is opened from the closed small box.
[0005] Japanese Registered Utility Model No.
3206124, which is shown as Patent Document 4, discloses a ring case 1 for accommodating a
ring. The first deployment member 10 and the second deployment member 20 supporting
the finger ring 30 are attached to the right and left case members 2L,2R of the finger
ring case, and when the case member is opened, the folded first and second deployment
members are deployed, and the finger ring 30 is rotated by 90 degrees, and as a result,
it is described that "the ring portion of the ring can be made to appear to the opponent
in an annular shape when viewed from the front, and an element of surprise can be
added when giving an engagement ring from a man to a woman." However, when the case
is opened, the ring does not move away from the closed position of the case 1, i.e.,
above the case, even if it can be rotated.
Prior art Documents
Patent Document
[0006]
Patent Document 1 U.S. Pat. No. 9,375,066
Patent Document 2 Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open Publication No. H06-3126
Patent Document 3 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. H06-298266
Patent Document 4 Japanese Registered Utility Model No. 3206124
Summary of Invention
Problem to be Solved by the Invention
[0007] While jewelry is usually stored, kept and transported in a small box in which it
is stored, for example, when a mating ring is stored, kept and transported in a small
box and presented for engagement, it is normal to present the mating ring together
with the small box to the recipient while the mating ring is still stored. In such
cases, it may not be appropriate for the person who presents the ring in mind to present,
e.g., as a seal of engagement, a gift by opening the small box, simply removing it
from the pedestal inside the small box with a finger, and then presenting it in order
to present the stored engagement ring to the recipient.
[0008] Accordingly, it is an object of the present disclosure to provide a jewelry storing
small box that is driven to present a jewelry with a visual effect that impresses
the person who presents the jewelry.
Means for Solving the Problems
[0009] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a jewelry storing
small box (1) for storing a jewelry, the small box comprising: a pair of small box
outer shell members (2, 3) defining the interior of the small box (1); a hinge member
(4) for coupling the pair of small box outer shell members (2, 3) so as to enable
rotation between two positions for closing off and opening up the small box (1) interior;
a jewelry pedestal member (61) that has a lower end supported by the hinge member
(4) and an upper end on which a jewelry can be mounted; and a drive mechanism for
driving the jewelry pedestal member (61) in conjunction with the opening/closing rotating
motion of the small box outer shell members (2, 3) so that when the small box (1)
interior is closed off, the jewelry is positioned at a first orientation/position,
and when the small box (1) interior is opened up, the jewelry is positioned at a second
orientation/position that is above the first orientation/position in the direction
away from the hinge member (4) and is rotated relative to the first orientation/position.
Effect of the Invention
[0010] In accordance with the present disclosure, there is provided a jewelry storing small
box for storing a jewelry capable of presenting the jewelry visually impressive to
a recipient.
Brief Description of Drawings
[0011]
Fig. 1 is an exploded view of Example 1.
Fig. 2 is a partial perspective view of Example 1 when the inside of the small box
is closed.
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of Example 1 when the interior of the small box is half
open.
Fig. 4 is a perspective view of Example 1 when the inside of the small box is fully
opened.
Fig. 5 is an exploded view of Example 2.
Fig. 6 is a partial perspective view of Example 2 when the inside of the small box
is closed.
Fig. 7 is a perspective view of Example 2 when the inside of the small box is half
open.
Fig. 8 is a perspective view of Example 2 when the inside of the small box is fully
opened.
Fig. 9A is a schematic diagram showing the correlation of the main components of Example
2 in different operating states of A.
Fig. 9B is a schematic diagram showing the correlation of the main components of Example
2 in different operating states of B.
Fig. 9C is a schematic diagram showing the correlation of the main components of Example
2 in different operating states of C.
Fig. 10A is a schematic diagram showing another correlation of the main components
of Example 2, and different operating states of A.
Fig. 10B is a schematic diagram showing another correlation of the main components
of Example 2, and different operating states of B.
Description of Embodiments
[0012] Hereinafter, each embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying
drawings. The following examples relate to jewelry storing small box provided with
means for rotating the jewelry up from the box and thereby providing an impressive
visual effect to the jewelry, in conjunction therewith when the box is opened, in
order to enhance its rendering effect when presenting the stored jewelry.
(EXAMPLE 1)
[0013] Example 1 is shown in the accompanying FIGS. 1 to 5.
[0014] The main part of the jewelry storing small box 1 for storing a jewelry is composed
of a pair of small box outer shell members 2, 3 defining the inside of the small box,
and a hinge member 4 for connecting the small box outer shell members to each other
on one side thereof. As shown in FIG. 1, the hinge member 4 has a sheath shape or
a cylindrical shape in which one side edge along the longitudinal direction is opened,
and a pair of small box outer shell members 2, 3 are hinged at both ends thereof.
[0015] As clearly shown in FIG. 1, the above-mentioned hinge member 4 is provided with a
center gear 41 rotatably at a substantially central position, and a prismatic shaft
62 integrally formed with the center gear 41 stands upright from the center of the
center gear 41. A rotary rack sleeve 77 having a pedestal 61 at its upper end for
mounting a jewelry such as a ring is placed on the shaft 62. The rotary rack sleeve
77 is movable in the thrust direction with respect to the shaft 62, and a fitting
inner hole thereof is formed in a square columnar shape so as to be fixed with respect
to the shaft 62 in the radial direction.
[0016] The base portions of the pair of frames 42 and 43 are fixed on the hinge member 4
at positions where they sandwich the center gear 41, the shaft 62, and the rotary
rack sleeve 77. A pair of gear shafts 75 and 76 are passed over the upper ends of
the frames 42 and 43, and a rotary rack sleeve 77 is engaged with the gear shafts
75 and 76.
[0017] The small box outer shell members 2, 3 are provided with a bracket 2a, 3a respectively
fixed to the inner wall thereof, and pulley-attached gears 51 and 52 are provided
at their tips respectively, and these gears mesh with the center gear 41 on the hinge
member 4 through the base opening portions 42a and 43a of the pair of frames 42 and
43, respectively.
[0018] Gear shafts 75 and 76 at the upper ends of the frames 42 and 43 have pulleys 73 and
74 fixed to shafts passing through the frames 42 and 43, respectively, and these pulleys
73 and 74 engage transmission belts 71 and 72 pulled from the pulley-attached gears
51 and 52, respectively.
[0019] According to the configuration described above, when the inside of the small box
is closed, the jewelry therein is in the posture/position extending in parallel with
the inner wall of the small box, and when the inside of the small box is opened, the
jewelry is in a posture/position extending in parallel with the wall thickness direction
of the small box, which is above the above-mentioned closed position and spaced apart
from the hinge. The jewelry pedestal member can be driven in response to the opening
and closing pivotal movement of the small box outer shell members so as to displace
between these two positions.
[0020] In FIG. 2, a ring is indicated by a broken line as an example of jewelry, and as
shown in FIG. 2, the pedestal 61 on which the ring is mounted positions the ring in
a posture/position in which the side faces are parallel to the inner walls of the
small box outer shell members 2, 3 when the small box is closed. When the small box
outer shell members 2, 3 are opened from the closed position, the pulley-attached
gears 51 and 52 of the bracket 2a, 3a attached to the small box outer shell member
2, 3 rotate the center gear 41 of the hinge member 4, and rotate the rotary rack sleeve
77 about its own axis through the shaft 62 integral therewith, and rotate the gear
shafts 75 and 76 via the transmission belts 71 and 72 to push the rotary rack sleeve
77 up in the thrust direction. As a result, the pedestal 61 and the ring mounted thereon
also move up and away from the inner walls of the small box outer shell members 2,
3 as shown in FIG. 3, and the ring makes a transition while pivoting to the posture/position
shown in FIG. 4 extending in parallel with the wall thickness direction of the small
box. The reverse operation is performed, of course, when the small box is closed from
FIG. 4 to FIG. 3 to FIG. 2.
[0021] According to the first embodiment, it is possible to present jewelry to a recipient
with an impressive visual effect that the jewelry such as a wedding ring rises while
swinging from the opening small box in conjunction with opening of the small box,
for example, at the time of presenting a wedding ring to the recipient. As a result,
affection of the person who presents the jewelry can be conveyed easily.
[0022] Specifically, the jewelry storing small box 1 according to the first embodiment,
when the small box is opened, the jewelry is separated from the inner wall of the
small box by a drive mechanism for driving the pedestal 61 of the jewelry, and the
jewelry is raised to an exposed posture/position which is displaced by an angle of
90 degrees from the storage posture/position. The jewelry is rotated while moved upward
from the inside of the opened small box to an exposed posture/position away from the
inside of the small box, so that the jewelry is presented to the recipient with a
visual effect that enhances the impression of the offering.
[0023] In addition, according to the first embodiment, in the exposed posture/position separated
from the inner wall of the small box 1 when the jewelry storing small box 1 is opened,
the front face of the jewelry can be made to face the recipient by the rotating operation
of the jewelry by the small box, whereby the impression of the offering to the recipient
can be further enhanced.
[0024] Further, according to the first embodiment, since the drive mechanism is provided
for driving the pedestal 61 of the jewelry storing small box 1 in conjunction with
the opening and closing movement of the small box, the long side surface of the jewelry
stored in the small box can extend in a direction substantially parallel to the inner
wall of the small box outer shell member and occupy an adjacent posture/position.
As a result, the dimension of the small box in the wall thickness direction can be
minimized, that is, the appearance of the jewelry storing small box 1 becomes slim.
[0025] In the first embodiment, as an example, the pedestal 61 constitutes a jewelry pedestal
member on which a jewelry can be mounted. The center gear 41, the gears 51 and 52,
the transmission belts 71 and 72, the pulleys 73 and 74, the gear shafts 75 and 76,
and the rotary rack sleeve 77 constitute a drive mechanism for driving the jewelry
pedestal member.
(EXAMPLE 2)
[0026] Example 2 is shown in FIGS. 5 to 9 with the same reference numerals for the same
or similar components as Example 1.
[0027] In the jewelry storing small box 1 according to the second embodiment, the pedestal
member 6 is composed of a pedestal 61 for supporting a ring shown by a broken line
in FIG. 5 as a jewelry, and a cylindrical stay 60 provided with the pedestal 61 at
the upper end and having a through-hole 63 near the lower end. The through-holes 63
have openings 63a and 63b at circumferential positions separated by approximately
180 degrees in the radial direction. The pedestal member 6 slidably inserts the stay
60 into a cylindrical guide portion formed inside the hollow guide member 5 having
a substantially rectangular cross-sectional shape fixed to the base portion of the
hinge member 4, and extends toward the opposite side of the one side to which the
small box outer shell members 2, 3 are coupled by the hinge member 4. The hollow guide
member 5 constitutes a pedestal member guide member.
[0028] As clearly shown in the exploded view of FIG. 5, the hollow guide member 5 is provided
with openings 53 and 54 in the vicinity of the upper end and the lower end of the
wall on one side of the rectangle. The slider 7 with the protrusions 81 is fitted
loosely with a rectangular inner bore outside the hollow guide member 5 so as to be
slidable without relative rotation to the hollow guide member 5, and they are combined
so that the protrusions 81 are on the same side as the side wall of the hollow guide
member 5 in which the openings 53, 54 are present. The slider 7 is connected to the
small box outer shell member 2, 3 by connecting rods 82 and 83. One end of each of
the connecting rods 82, 83 is engaged with the bracket 21, 31 fixed to the inner wall
of the small box outer shell member 2, 3, and the other end is engaged with the protrusion
81 of the slider 7.
[0029] As shown in the exploded view of FIG. 5, the driving tape 10 forming a flexible tape
element has a ring 11 pivotally supported by a protrusion 81 of the slider 7 (an example
of an engaging portion in the slider), and from the ring 11, the driving tape 10 extends
outside of the hollow guide member 5 to the inside of the hollow guide member 5 through
an opening 53 (an example of a first opening) of the hollow guide member 5, passes
through a through-hole 63 of the stay 60 of the pedestal member 6 from an opening
63a to an opening 63b, passes through an opening 54 (an example of a second opening)
of the hollow guide member 5, exits to the outside of the hollow guide member 5, and
reaches the ring 11 again.
[0030] FIG. 6 shows a state in which the small box is closed, and although not shown, the
pedestal 61 supports a ring as the jewelry as shown in FIG. 2 of Example 1, and the
side surface of the ring positions the ring in a posture/position parallel to the
inner walls of the small box outer shell members 2, 3. In that position, the brackets
21 and 31 of the small box outer shell members 2, 3 are closest to each other, the
connecting rods 82 and 83 engaged with the protrusions 81 of the slider 7 are raised,
and the slider 7 is in the uppermost position.
[0031] As shown in FIG. 6, the correlation between the operation of the stay 60 of the pedestal
61 and the hollow guide member 5 and the driving tape 10 of the stay 60 is schematically
shown in FIG. 9A when the small box is closed and the ring is positioned by the pedestal
61 in a posture/position parallel to the inner wall of the small box outer shell members
2, 3.
[0032] When the small box outer shell members 2, 3 are opened around the hinge member 4
from the closed position, the connecting rods 82 and 83 are opened, and the protrusion
81 of the slider 7 is pulled down, and the driving tape 10 is pulled downward outside
the hollow guide member 5 by the ring 11 engaging with the protrusion 81. The driving
tape 10 running from the opening 53 to the opening 63a of the through-hole 63 of the
stay 60 frictionally engages the corner surface of the opening 63a and pulls the opening
63a of the through-hole 63 to the vicinity of the opening 53 until the distance is
minimized as shown in FIG. 9C. Since the opening 53 is not only above the opening
63a of the through-hole 63, but also at a position where the angular phase of the
pedestal 61 is different from that of the opening 63a of the through-hole 63, the
stay 60 not only ascends linearly but also rotates counterclockwise to approximately
90 degrees. The movement trajectory of the angular surface of the opening 63a by the
driving tape 10 is substantially the same as that of the driving tape 10 from the
opening 63a to the opening 53 shown in FIG. 9A. FIG. 9B shows a state thereof in the
middle.
[0033] Further, when the small box is opened and the jewelry is separated from the inner
wall of the small box as shown in FIG. 9C, and the small box is returned to the storage
position as shown in FIG. 9A after passing through the intermediate posture/position
when the small box is half opened as shown in FIG. 9B, the driving tape 10 can pull
down the stay 60 until the opening 63b comes closest to the opening 54 by frictional
engagement with the corner surface of the opening 63b of the through-hole 63 so that
the stay 60 is in the lower position and the angle is also returned to the original
angle position and orientation. When the small box is opened and jewelry is separated
from the inner wall of the small box as shown in Fig. 9C and returns to the storage
posture/position as shown in Fig. 9A after passing through the intermediate posture/position
when the small box is half opened as shown in Fig. 9B, the driving tape 10 can pull
down the stay 60 by frictional engagement with the corner surface of the opening 63b
of the through-hole 63 until the opening 63b comes closest to the opening 54, so that
the stay 60 is in the lower position and the angle returns to the original angle posture/position.
[0034] In order to turn the pedestal clockwise, as shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, the engagement
direction of the driving tape 10 with respect to the through-hole 63 of the stay 60
is only reversed from that of FIG. 9, and therefore, the turning direction of the
jewelry can be easily changed by the same component.
[0035] In Example 2, substantially the same effect as in Example 1 described above can be
obtained. That is, at the time of giving the engagement ring, the jewelry such as
the engagement ring can be presented with an impressive visual effect on the recipient
that the jewelry rises while swinging from the opened small box in conjunction with
the opening of the small box. As a result, affection of the person who presents the
jewelry can be conveyed easily.
[0036] In the second embodiment, the hollow guide member 5, the slider 7, the driving tape
10, and the connecting rods 82 and 83 constitute a drive mechanism for driving the
jewelry pedestal member 6, as an example.
[0037] In the second embodiment described above, the connecting rods 82 and 83 are engaged
with the protrusion 81 of the slider 7 engaged with the ring 11 of the driving tape
10, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The connecting rods 82 and 83
may be engaged at different points from the protrusion 81 of the slider 7 to which
the annulus 11 of the driving tape 10 engages, (for example at two points on both
sides of the protrusion 81 of the slider 7). And in the second embodiment described
above, the pedestal 61 is separate from the stay 60, and they are integrated by being
joined, but they may be integrally molded from the original. Alternatively, the pedestal
61 may be configured to be removably attachable to the stay 60. In this case, by preparing
a plurality of types of pedestals 61, it is possible to easily cope with jewelries
of various sizes.
[0038] Although each embodiment has been described above in detail, the present invention
is not limited to a specific embodiment, and various modifications and variations
are possible within the scope of the claims. It is also possible to adopt a configuration
in which all or some of the components of the above-described embodiments are combined.
Reference Signs List
[0039]
- 1
- jewelry storing small box
- 2
- small box outer shell member
- 2a
- bracket
- 3
- small box outer shell member
- 3a
- bracket
- 4
- hinge member
- 5
- hollow guide member
- 6
- pedestal member
- 7
- slider
- 10
- driving tape
- 11
- ring
- 21
- bracket
- 31
- bracket
- 41
- center gear
- 42
- frame
- 42a
- base opening portion of the pair of frame
- 43
- frame
- 43a
- base opening portion of the pair of frame
- 51
- gear
- 53
- opening
- 52
- gear
- 54
- opening
- 61
- pedestal
- 62
- shaft
- 60
- stay
- 63
- through-hole
- 63a
- opening
- 63b
- opening
- 71
- transmission belt
- 81
- protrusion
- 72
- transmission belt
- 73
- pulley
- 74
- gear shaft
- 76
- gear shaft
- 77
- rotary rack sleeve
- 82
- connecting rod
- 83
- connecting rod
1. A jewelry storing small box comprising:
a pair of small box outer shell members defining the interior of the small box;
a hinge member for pivotally connecting the pair of the small box outer shell members,
by which the pair of the small box outer shell members can be rotationally transferred
between two positions for closing and opening the box interior;
a jewelry pedestal member having a lower end supported by the hinge member and capable
of mounting a jewelry at an upper end thereof;
a drive mechanism for driving the jewelry pedestal member in conjunction with the
rotational movement of opening and closing of the pair of small box outer shell members,
so that the jewelry reaches a first posture/position when the inside of the small
box is closed, and the jewelry reaches a second posture/position which is above the
first posture/position separated from the hinge member and rotated with respect to
the first posture/position when the inside of the small box is open.
2. The Jewelry storing small box according to claim 1, wherein
at the first posture/position, the jewelry extends in parallel to the inner wall of
the small box, and
at the second posture/position, the jewelry extends in parallel with the wall thickness
direction of the small box.
3. The Jewelry storing small box according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the drive mechanism
comprises
a pair of connecting rods each having one end rotatably connected to the pair of small
box outer shell members,
a pedestal member guide member extending in a first direction and slidably supporting
the jewelry pedestal member in the first direction,
a slider slidably supported by the pedestal member guide member in the first direction
and rotatably connected to the other end of the pair of connecting rods,
and a flexible tape element engaging with the slider and the jewelry pedestal member.
4. The Jewelry storing small box according to claim 3, wherein
the pedestal member guide member is hollow, has a first opening on the upper side
in the first direction, has a second opening on the lower side in the first direction,
the jewelry pedestal member extends in the first direction, has a through-hole in
a second direction intersecting the first direction, and is rotatably supported with
respect to the pedestal member guide member about an axis along the first direction,
and
the tape element extends from an engaging portion in the slider to the inside of the
pedestal member guide member through the first opening of the pedestal member guide
member, passes through the through-hole of the jewelry pedestal member, passes out
of the pedestal member guide member through the second opening of the pedestal member
guide member, and returns to the engaging portion.
5. The Jewelry storing small box according to claim 4, wherein the drive mechanism is
configured to have a function that the slider slides in the first direction in conjunction
with the opening and closing rotational movement of the pair of small box outer shell
members, the tape element moves in conjunction with the sliding movement of the slider,
and the pedestal member guide member rotates around the axis while sliding in the
first direction in conjunction with the movement of the tape element.
6. A jewelry storing small box comprising:
a pair of small box outer shell members defining an interior of the small box;
a hinge member connecting the pair of small box outer shell members so that the pair
of small box outer shell members can rotate and move between two positions for closing
and opening the interior of the small box;
a jewelry pedestal member located inside of the small box defined by the pair of small
box outer shell members and capable of mounting a jewelry at an upper end thereof
such that the jewelry is at a posture/position in a closed state of the interior of
the small box and at another posture/position in an opened state of the interior of
the small box;
a pedestal member guide member having a cylindrical guide portion in which the jewelry
pedestal member is slidably fitted;
and a flexible tape element connecting the jewelry pedestal member fitted in the guide
portion to the pedestal member guide member; wherein
in response to the pivotal movement of the pair of small box outer shell members between
two positions for closing and opening the interior of the small box, the tape element
drives the jewelry pedestal member within the guide portion in the axial and radial
directions such that the jewelry mounted on the upper end portion of the jewelry pedestal
member is displaced between a closed posture/position within the small box and an
open posture/position within the small box.