Methods and apparatus for jewelry

Abstract

The present technology generally relates to a jewelry system and specifically to a modular interchangeable jewelry system comprised of one or more interconnecting and exchangeable modular components. The jewelry system may comprise a ruggedized modular locket system. The ruggedized modular locket system may comprise a coupling system adapted to interlock various modular components.

1 . A ruggedized modular locket system, comprising:
 a first portion;   a second portion;   an attachment interface releasably coupling the first portion to the second portion, wherein the first portion and the second portion define an interior cavity; and   a coupling system configured to selectively couple to a portion of at least one of the first portion and the second portion, wherein the coupling system comprises:
 a receiving engagement element disposed in at least one of the first portion and the second portion; and 
 a mating engagement element adapted to mateably engage at least a portion of the receiving engagement element. 
   
     
     
         2 . The ruggedized modular locket system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the receiving engagement element comprises:   a channel disposed internal to an exterior surface of the at least one of the first portion and the second portion,
 wherein the channel comprises:
 an interior wall; and 
 a bottom surface; and 
 
   the mating engagement element comprises:
 a stem comprising:
 an outer surface adapted to engage the interior wall of the channel; and 
 a terminal portion adapted to engage the bottom surface of the channel. 
 
   
     
     
         3 . The ruggedized modular locket system of  claim 2 , wherein the coupling system further comprises an attachment element coupled to a portion of the mating engagement element. 
     
     
         4 . The ruggedized modular locket system of  claim 1 , wherein the receiving engagement element is coupled to the mating engagement element. 
     
     
         5 . The ruggedized modular locket system of  claim 1 , wherein the receiving engagement element is coupled to the mating engagement element by a locking mechanism. 
     
     
         6 . The ruggedized modular locket system of  claim 5 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a weld coupling. 
     
     
         7 . The ruggedized modular locket system of  claim 2 , wherein the weld coupling comprises a portion of the stem weldably coupled to a portion of the channel. 
     
     
         8 . The ruggedized modular locket system of  claim 2 , wherein,
 a longitudinal length of the outer surface of the stem is weldably coupled to substantially an entire longitudinal length of the interior wall of the channel; and   the terminal portion of the stem is weldably coupled to the bottom surface of the channel.   
     
     
         9 . The ruggedized modular locket system of  claim 5 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises an adhesive coupling. 
     
     
         10 . The ruggedized modular locket system of  claim 5 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a friction fit coupling. 
     
     
         11 . The ruggedized modular locket system of  claim 5 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a mechanical fastener connection. 
     
     
         12 . The ruggedized modular locket system of  claim 11 , wherein the mechanical fastener connection comprises a threaded fastener connection. 
     
     
         13 . The ruggedized modular locket system of  claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of the stem comprises a male screw thread and the interior wall of the channel comprises a female screw thread, wherein the male screw thread is adapted to receive the female screw thread. 
     
     
         14 . The ruggedized modular locket system of  claim 11 , wherein the mechanical fastener connection comprises a snap-fit fastener connection. 
     
     
         15 . The ruggedized modular locket system of  claim 1 , wherein the channel comprises at least one groove disposed along the interior wall adapted to engage at least one protrusion positioned along the outer surface of the stem. 
     
     
         16 . The ruggedized modular locket system of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one protrusion is adapted to medially compress as the stem is inserted into the channel and then laterally decompress and extend into the at least one groove upon encountering the at least one groove. 
     
     
         17 . The ruggedized modular locket system of  claim 11 , wherein the mechanical fastener connection comprises an elastic snap-fit fastener connection. 
     
     
         18 . The ruggedized modular locket system of  claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of the stem is configured to medially compress when the stem is inserted into the channel and laterally decompress and engage the interior wall of the channel. 
     
     
         19 . The ruggedized modular locket system of  claim 1 , wherein the coupling system further comprises a release system adapted to releasably couple the receiving engagement element to the mating engagement element. 
     
     
         20 . The ruggedized modular locket system of  claim 1 , wherein the coupling system further comprises a cover system coupled to an exterior surface of the at least one of the first portion and the second portion adapted to at least partially obscure the receiving engagement element disposed in the least one of the first portion and the second portion. 
     
     
         21 . The ruggedized modular locket system of  claim 20 , wherein the cover system is coupled to the exterior surface of the least one of the first portion and the second portion by a spring-loaded mechanism adapted to:
 selectively pivot the cover relative to the exterior surface of the least one of the first portion and the second portion at an angle range adapted to minimize interference at an engagement interface of the receiving engagement element and the mating engagement element; and   to bias the cover in a closed position.   
     
     
         22 . A ruggedized modular locket system, comprising:
 a first portion;   a second portion;   an attachment interface releasably coupling the first portion to the second portion, wherein the first portion and the second portion define an interior cavity; and   a coupling system coupled to the first portion wherein the coupling system comprises:
 a receiving engagement element disposed in the first portion; and 
 a mating engagement element adapted to mateably engage at least a portion of the receiving engagement element, wherein:
 the receiving engagement element comprises:
 a channel disposed internal to an exterior surface of the first portion, 
  wherein the channel comprises: 
  an interior wall; and 
  a bottom surface; and 
 
 the mating engagement element comprises:
 a stem comprising: 
  an outer surface adapted to engage the interior wall of the channel; and 
  a terminal portion adapted to engage the bottom surface of the channel. 
 
 
   
     
     
         23 . The ruggedized modular locket system of  claim 22 , wherein the coupling system further comprises an attachment element coupled to a portion of the mating engagement element. 
     
     
         24 . The ruggedized modular locket system of  claim 22 , wherein the receiving engagement element is coupled to the mating engagement element. 
     
     
         25 . The ruggedized modular locket system of  claim 24 , wherein at least one of the receiving engagement element and the mating engagement element are configured to be coupled by a locking mechanism adapted to selectively interlock the receiving engagement element and the mating engagement element. 
     
     
         26 . The ruggedized modular locket system of  claim 25 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a weld coupling. 
     
     
         27 . The ruggedized modular locket system of  claim 22 , wherein a portion of the stem is weldably coupled to a portion of the channel. 
     
     
         28 . The ruggedized modular locket system of  claim 25 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a mechanical fastener connection. 
     
     
         29 . The ruggedized modular locket system of  claim 28 , wherein the mechanical fastener connection comprises a threaded fastener connection. 
     
     
         30 . The ruggedized modular locket system of  claim 22 , wherein the outer surface of the stem comprises a male screw thread and the interior wall of the channel comprises a female screw thread, wherein the male screw thread is adapted to receive the female screw thread. 
     
     
         31 . The ruggedized modular locket system of  claim 28 , wherein the mechanical fastener connection comprises a snap-fit fastener connection. 
     
     
         32 . The ruggedized modular locket system of  claim 22 , wherein the channel comprises at least one groove disposed along the interior wall adapted to engage at least one protrusion positioned along the outer surface of the stem. 
     
     
         33 . The ruggedized modular locket system of  claim 32 , wherein the at least one protrusion is adapted to medially compress as the stem is inserted into the channel and then laterally decompress and extend into the at least one groove upon encountering the at least one groove. 
     
     
         34 . The ruggedized modular locket system of  claim 28 , wherein the mechanical fastener connection comprises an elastic snap-fit fastener connection. 
     
     
         35 . The ruggedized modular locket system of  claim 22 , wherein the outer surface of the stem is configured to medially compress when the stem is inserted into the channel and laterally decompress and engage the interior wall of the channel. 
     
     
         36 . The ruggedized modular locket system of  claim 22 , wherein the coupling system further comprises a release system adapted to releasably couple the receiving engagement element to the mating engagement element. 
     
     
         37 . The ruggedized modular locket system of  claim 22 , wherein the coupling system further comprises a cover system coupled to the exterior surface of the first portion adapted to at least partially obscure the receiving engagement element disposed in the first portion. 
     
     
         38 . The ruggedized modular locket system of  claim 37 , wherein the cover system is coupled to the exterior surface of the first portion by a spring-loaded mechanism adapted to:
 selectively pivot the cover relative to the exterior surface of the first portion comprising a back portion at an angle range adapted to minimize interference at an engagement interface of the receiving engagement element and the mating engagement element; and   to bias the cover in a closed position.