Selectively self-adjustable jewelry item and method of making same

Abstract

An article of jewelry is disclosed wherein a stretchable filament is threaded through or otherwise attached to a desired number of ornaments and maintained in loop form by a knot tied in the filament. The filament is formed of a material that may be stretched between two extremes: a minimally stretched length and a fully stretched length. The filament further has a relaxed length that is less than the fully stretched length. The filament is selectively adjustable in that the relaxed length may be adjusted upward but not downward. Also disclosed is a method for tying a symmetric, sturdy knot in the stretchable filament that includes the step of simultaneously pulling with substantially equal force on each of the trailing ends exiting the knot in such a way that a portion of the filament including the knot is stretched to or almost to its fully stretched length.

We claim:  
     
         1 . An article of jewelry comprising: 
 a filament stretchable between a minimally stretched length and a fully stretched length, said filament forming a loop, said filament having a relaxed length less than said fully stretched length, said relaxed length selectively adjustable such that said relaxed length may be adjusted upward but not downward; and    a knot tied in said filament, said knot maintaining said loop in said filament.    
     
     
         2 . The invention of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one ornament slidably engaging said filament.  
     
     
         3 . The invention of  claim 2  wherein said ornament contains an opening sized to restrictively admit the passage of said knot through said ornament.  
     
     
         4 . The invention of  claim 1  wherein said relaxed length is initially equal to said minimally stretched length.  
     
     
         5 . The invention of  claim 1  wherein said filament has a thickness greater than or equal to 0.3 millimeters and less than or equal to 0.6 millimeters.  
     
     
         6 . The invention of  claim 1  wherein said fully stretched length is at least double said minimally stretched length.  
     
     
         7 . The invention of  claim 1  wherein said relaxed length is such that said loop may removably engage a portion of a human body.  
     
     
         8 . The invention of  claim 7  wherein said relaxed length self-adjusts during an adjustment period to conform to said portion of a human body.  
     
     
         9 . The invention of  claim 8  wherein said adjustment period is at least two hours.  
     
     
         10 . The invention of  claim 7  wherein said portion of a human body is a toe.  
     
     
         11 . The invention of  claim 1  wherein said knot is a square knot.  
     
     
         12 . A method of making an article of jewelry, said method comprising the steps of: 
 (1) threading a desired number of ornaments onto a filament, said filament having a minimally stretched length, a fully stretched length, and a relaxed length less than said fully stretched length, said relaxed length selectively adjustable such that said relaxed length may be adjusted upward but not downward;    (2) forming a loop in said filament; and    (3) tying a knot in said filament, said knot maintaining said loop in said filament.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein a portion of said filament is stretched to or substantially to said fully stretched length during the tying of said knot, said portion of said filament comprising said knot.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising the step of concealing said knot inside said ornament.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said knot is a square knot.  
     
     
         16 . A display card for an article of jewelry comprising a stretchable filament having a minimally stretched length, a fully stretched length, and a relaxed length less than said fully stretched length, said display card comprising: 
 (1) a plurality of attachment points to vary the size of said filament; and    (2) first and second side portions, said first side portion sloped with respect to said second side portion such that said display card has a region of narrowest width at or near said first side portion, wherein said filament may slide on said display card such that said article of jewelry adopts said minimally stretched length.    
     
     
         17 . A method of selecting a size for an article of jewelry, said article of jewelry comprising a stretchable filament having a minimally stretched length, a fully stretched length, and a relaxed length less than said fully stretched length, said method comprising the steps of: 
 (1) placing said article of jewelry on a display card such that said article of jewelry contacts said display card at a plurality of attachment points, said display card having a plurality of widths; and    (2) selecting said attachment points such that a distance between said attachment points is substantially equal to said size for said article of jewelry.