SILICONE RING

Abstract

A flexible wearable ring assembly wherein a circular band portion is designed to encircle a human finger and a top portion is designed to hold a removable portion displaying a logo or other symbol. The flexible wearable ring assembly is made from a silicone-based compound or other flexible material. The flexible wearable ring assembly may include a radio-frequency identification tag containing data that may include blockchain data. The flexible wearable ring assembly may include other text, symbols, patterns, or color codes for either or both presenting information and accessing other data or systems.

Description

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

[0001] This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. provisional application No. 62/985,293, filed on Mar. 4, 2020, titled SILICONE RING, the contents of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The inventive concept relates generally to a flexible wearable ring assembly.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Currently, there are a number of solutions employed by users for wearing rings while riding a motorcycle or when operating other machinery. In one of these solutions, the user attempts to wear the ring around his or her neck, but this solution fails to meet the needs of the market because the user may not have a chain or string on which to put it. Another solution attempts to utilize customized rings, but this solution is similarly unable to meet the needs of the market because it may be expensive. In still another solution, the user seeks to wear the ring on his or her finger, but this solution also fails to meet market needs because it may fall off while riding or while operating other machines or be uncomfortable. Therefore, there currently exists a need in the market for a flexible wearable ring assembly that allows motorcyclists to wear custom rings while riding and that would also be useful for people operating other vehicles or other machines where inflexible rings may cause harm.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The inventive concept is a flexible wearable ring assembly. In one embodiment, a circular band portion is designed to encircle a human finger. The top portion of the circular band portion is designed to display a removable symbol portion. The removable symbol portion is coupled to the top portion of the circular band portion.

[0005] In one embodiment of the flexible wearable ring assembly, the circular band portion is made from a silicone-based compound. The circular band portion may also be made from an elastic polymeric substance. The removable symbol portion and the circular band portion in the same flexible ring assembly may be made from different compounds. In one embodiment of the flexible wearable ring assembly, at least the circular band portion is made from a silicone-based compound. In one embodiment of the flexible wearable ring assembly, the removable symbol portion is made from a polymer-based compound. In one embodiment of the flexible wearable ring assembly, the removable symbol portion is interchangeable with at least one second removable symbol portion.

[0006] In one embodiment of the flexible wearable ring assembly, the shape of the top portion of the circular band portion substantially matches the shape of the removable symbol portion. In one embodiment of the flexible wearable ring assembly, at least the circular band portion is made from a polymer-based compound. In one embodiment of the flexible wearable ring assembly, the circular band portion further comprises an interweaving of a first helical band and a second helical band each made from the silicone-based compound together forming the circular band portion.

[0007] In one embodiment of the flexible wearable ring assembly, the removable symbol portion is a corporate logo. In other embodiments, the symbol is at least one or more of a pictorial, an element of letters or numbers, and raised and lowered elements that create another discernable shape.

[0008] The removable symbol portion may be decorative but may also serve a function if either or both physical and electrical elements are shaped or encoded on or within the removable symbol portion as might, in one example, serve as at least one or more of a key and a pass code. At least one portion of the flexible wearable ring assembly may display at least one or more of a functional color and shape from at least one or more from a group of: luminescence, letters, words, icons, symbols, and visual codes for electric readers. The circular band portion and the removable symbol portion of the flexible ring assembly may be of many singular colors or many combinations of colors. The colors may display useful features such as at least one or more of luminescence, useful symbols such as words, a medical red cross, and electrical and visual code symbols. The removable symbol portion may be electrically encoded to serve as at least one or more of a key and a pass code.

[0009] In one embodiment of the flexible wearable ring assembly, the removable symbol portion is attached using a press stud, popper, or snap. In one embodiment of the flexible wearable ring assembly, the removable symbol portion may be attached using one or more of an adhesive, hook and loop, or magnetic elements. In one embodiment of the flexible wearable ring assembly, the removable symbol portion may slide into place along grooved edges.

[0010] A person of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that the removable symbol portion and the circular band portion could be made as one piece by such methods as molding, heat assembly, or 3D printing.

[0011] The flexible wearable ring assembly may include a fitted portion of the circular band portion that couples with a fitted portion of a second circular band portion designed to encircle a human finger, the second circular band portion being attachable and detachable to the flexible wearable ring assembly. The attachment of the circular band portion and the second circular band portion may take place using one or more of a press stud, popper, and snap. In other embodiments, the attachment of the circular band portion and the second circular band portion may take place using at least one or more of an adhesive, hook and loop, and magnetic elements. In another embodiment, the attachment of the circular band portion and the second circular band portion may take place by sliding the circular band portion and the second circular band portion into place along grooved edges.

[0012] The top portion of the circular band portion may contain at least one radio-frequency identification tag. At least one radio-frequency identification tag in one embodiment is accessible by removing the removable symbol portion. The radio-frequency identification tag is designed to receive, store, and provide data. The radio-frequency identification tag in one embodiment may be encoded with blockchain data. The radio-frequency identification tag may be disposed in or on the circular band portion or it may be disposed in or on the removable symbol portion. In one embodiment of the flexible wearable ring assembly, the top portion of the circular band portion contains at least one radio-frequency identification tag, the at least one radio-frequency identification tag accessible by removing the removable symbol portion. In one embodiment of the flexible wearable ring assembly, the radio-frequency identification tag is coupled to the circular band portion. In one embodiment of the flexible wearable ring assembly, the radio-frequency identification tag is coupled to the removable symbol portion. In one embodiment of the flexible wearable ring assembly, the radio-frequency identification tag is encoded with blockchain data.

[0013] Blockchain is a peer-to-peer authentication system for valuable digitized items such as, for example: 1) digital cash; 2) intellectual property; 3) private financial data; 4) chain of title to one or more rights; 5) real property; 6) digital wallet; 7) digital representation of rights including, such as, for example, a license to intellectual property; 8) digital representation of a contractual relationship; 9) medical records; 10) security clearance rights; 11) background check information; 12) passwords; 13) access control information for physical or virtual space; and 14) combinations, variations, and permutations of one or more of the foregoing--that allows online interactions directly between two or more parties without going through one or more trusted intermediaries. A blockchain peer-to-peer network may timestamp actions--for example: 1) document transfer, 2) document access, 3) document change, 4) document copying, 5) document merging, or 6) other activities through which the digital content is used for 1) its content as an item for trade, 2) its content as a record to be verifiably maintained or changed, or 3) as an item for remuneration--hashing them into an ongoing chain of hash-based proof-of-work code to form a record that cannot be changed without redoing the proof-of-work. The longest chain distributed on the peer-to-peer network proves that the data must have existed at the time in order to get into the hash. The blockchain may thereby prove the sequence of events witnessed, thereby proving the integrity of the digitized document has been maintained. A new block is added, creating a new chain that becomes the longest block and the digitized content is moved to the receiving party. In an exemplary embodiment, the authentication system utilizes one or more aspects of conventional blockchain systems such as, for example, those disclosed in US20180167200A1, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0014] The blockchain system allows digitized item use as intended based on cryptographic proof instead of trust, allowing any two or more willing parties to employ the content as intended without the need to trust each other and without the need for a trusted third party. The purpose includes, but is not limited to, ensuring that a digital document is 1) a unique and unaltered original; 2) was not altered after a given timestamp; 3) that alterations made can be followed to a traceable point of origin; 4) that only people with authorized keys can access the document; 5) that the document itself cannot be duplicated; 6) that where duplication is allowed, the integrity of the copy is maintained along with the original; 7) that the document creator was authorized to create the document; or 8) that the document holder was authorized to transfer, alter, or otherwise act on the document.

[0015] One embodiment of the flexible wearable ring involves a method of using data from a flexible wearable ring assembly, the method comprising wearing a circular band portion designed to encircle a human finger, the top portion of the circular band portion designed to display a removable symbol portion, the removable symbol portion coupled to the top portion of the circular band portion. This embodiment further involves reading data disposed within at least one radio-frequency identification tag coupled to at least one or more of the circular band portion and the removable symbol portion. This method may further comprise accessing data via a peer-to-peer authentication system designed to authenticate an ongoing chain of hash-based proof-of-work code.

[0016] One embodiment of the flexible wearable ring involves a method of using a flexible wearable ring assembly, the method comprising wearing a circular band portion designed to encircle a human finger, the top portion of the circular band portion designed to display a removable symbol portion, the removable symbol portion coupled to the top portion of the circular band portion. This embodiment further involves loading data onto at least one radio-frequency identification tag coupled to at least one or more of the circular band portion and the removable symbol portion. The method of using a flexible wearable ring may further involve encoding data via a peer-to-peer authentication system designed to add to an ongoing chain of hash-based proof-of-work code.

[0017] It would be advantageous to have a flexible wearable ring assembly that is silicone. Furthermore, it would also be advantageous to have a flexible wearable ring assembly that is flexible. Still further, it would be advantageous to have a flexible wearable ring assembly that is durable.

[0018] The inventive concept advantageously fills the aforementioned deficiencies by providing a flexible ring assembly.

[0019] Among other things, it is an advantage of the inventive concept to provide a flexible ring assembly that does not suffer from the problems or deficiencies associated with prior solutions.

[0020] It is still further an advantage of the inventive concept in some embodiments to be universally sized. In other embodiments, the inventive concept may have two or more sizes.

[0021] The inventive concept now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are intended to be read in conjunction with both this summary, the detailed description and any preferred and/or particular embodiments specifically discussed or otherwise disclosed. This inventive concept may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided by way of illustration only and so that this disclosure will be thorough, complete, and will fully convey the full scope of the inventive concept to those skilled in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] FIG. 1 illustrates the perspective view of the flexible wearable ring assembly.

[0023] FIG. 2 illustrates the top view of the flexible wearable ring assembly.

[0024] FIG. 3 illustrates the left side of the flexible wearable ring assembly.

[0025] FIG. 4 illustrates the front of the flexible wearable ring assembly.

[0026] FIG. 5 illustrates the right side of the flexible wearable ring assembly.

[0027] FIG. 6 illustrates the back of the flexible wearable ring assembly.

[0028] FIG. 7 illustrates the top of the flexible wearable ring assembly.

[0029] FIG. 8 illustrates the bottom of the flexible wearable ring assembly.

[0030] FIG. 9 illustrates the front of the flexible wearable ring assembly.

[0031] FIG. 10 illustrates the side of the flexible wearable ring assembly.

[0032] FIG. 11 illustrates the back of the flexible wearable ring assembly.

[0033] FIG. 12 illustrates the perspective view of the flexible wearable ring assembly.

[0034] FIG. 13 illustrates a blockchain flow chart.

[0035] FIG. 14 illustrates a computer system.

[0036] FIG. 15 illustrates a method of reading data from the flexible wearable ring assembly.

[0037] FIG. 16 illustrates a method of loading data to the flexible wearable ring assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0038] The following are more detailed descriptions of various related concepts related to, and embodiments of, methods and apparatus according to the present disclosure. It should be appreciated that various aspects of the subject matter introduced above and discussed in greater detail below may be implemented in any of numerous ways, as the subject matter is not limited to any particular manner of implementation. Examples of specific implementations and applications are provided primarily for illustrative purposes.

[0039] Referring to the Figures, FIG. 1-12 illustrates a flexible wearable ring assembly 100. A circular band portion 120 is designed to encircle a human finger. The top portion 130 of the circular band portion 120 is designed to display a removable symbol portion 140 attachable by at least one or more of a press stud, popper, snap, adhesive, hook and loop, magnetic elements, by slid the removable symbol portion into place along grooved edges. The removable symbol portion 140 is coupled to the top portion 130 of the circular band portion 120.

[0040] FIG. 4 further illustrates one embodiment of the flexible ring assembly 100 where the top portion 130 of the circular band portion 120 may contain at least one radio-frequency identification tag 400. The at least one radio-frequency identification tag 400 in the illustrated embodiment is accessible by removing the removable symbol portion 140.

[0041] FIG. 12 further illustrates an embodiment of the flexible wearable ring assembly 100. The circular band portion 120 is designed to encircle a human finger. The top portion 130 of the circular band portion 120 is designed to display a removable symbol portion 140. The removable symbol portion 140 is coupled to the top portion 130 of the circular band portion 120.

[0042] Now referring to FIG. 5, a process diagram, a blockchain update according to some implementations is illustrated. In step 501, party A who may be the flexible wearable ring assembly wearer, initiates the transfer of data to party B or party B may initiate the transfer as, for example, retrieving medical data. In some embodiments, Party A may prove that he or she has possession of the data by signing the transaction with a private key that may be verified with a public key in the previous transaction of the data. In step 502, the exchange initiated in step 501 is represented as a block. In some embodiments, the transaction may be compared with transaction records in the longest chain in the distributed system to verify party A's ownership. In some embodiments, a plurality of nodes in the network may compete to form the block containing the transaction record. In some embodiments, nodes may be required to satisfy proof-of-work by solving a difficult mathematical problem to form the block. In some embodiments, other methods of proof such as proof-of-stake, proof-of-time, or proof-of-space, may be used in the system. In some embodiments, a block may represent one or more transactions between different parties that are broadcasted to the nodes. In step 503, the block is broadcasted to parties in the network. In step 504, nodes in the network approve the exchange by examining the block that contains the exchange. In some embodiments, the nodes may check the solution provided as proof-of-work to approve the block. In some embodiments, the nodes may check the transaction against the transaction record in the longest blockchain in the system to verify that the transaction is valid (e.g. party A is in possession of the data he or she seeks to transfer). In some embodiments, a block may be approved with consensus of the nodes in the network. After a block is approved, the new block 506 representing the exchange is added to the existing chain 505 comprising blocks that chronologically precede the new block 506. The new block 506 may contain the transaction or transactions and a hash of one or more blocks in the existing chain 505. In some embodiments, each node may then update their copy of the blockchain with the new block and continue to work on extending the chain with additional transactions. In step 507, when the chain is updated with the new block, the data is movable from party A to party B.

[0043] FIG. 14 illustrates in accordance with embodiments of the present invention an at least one computer system 500 associated with either or both the at least one radio-frequency identification tag 400 and the blockchain that may generally comprise a processor 591 an input device 592 coupled to the processor 591, an output device 593 coupled to the processor 591, and memory devices 594 and 595 each coupled to the processor 591. A radio-frequency identification tag scanner 510 could read the at least one radio-frequency tag 400. The input device 592, output device 593 and memory devices 594, 595 may each be coupled to the processor 591 via a bus. Processor 591 may perform computations and control the functions of computer 500 including executing instructions included in the computer code 597 for the tools and programs capable of implementing a method for obtaining records stored on the at least one radio-frequency identification tag 400 that may also be on the blockchain for a person from a flexible wearable ring assembly, wherein the instructions of the computer code 597 may be executed by processor 591 via memory device 595. The computer code 597 may include software or program instructions that may implement one or more algorithms for implementing the methods for obtaining a record stored on the radio-frequency identification tag 400 that may also be on the blockchain for a person from a wearable device, as described in detail above. The processor 591. executes computer code 597. Processor 591 may include a single processing unit, or may be distributed across one or more processing units in one or more locations (e.g., on a client server).

[0044] The memory device 594 may include input data 596. The input data 596 includes any inputs required by the computer code 597. The output device 593 displays output from the computer code 597. Either or both memory devices 594 and 595 may be used as a computer usable storage medium (or program storage device) having a computer readable program embodied therein and/or having other data stored therein, wherein the computer readable program comprises the computer code 597. Generally, a computer program product (or, alternatively, an article of manufacture) of the computer system 500 may comprise the computer usable storage medium (or the program storage device).

[0045] The memory devices 594, 595 include any known computer readable storage medium, including those described in detail below. In one embodiment, cache memory elements of memory devices 594, 595 may provide temporary storage of at least some program code (e.g., computer code 597) in order to reduce the number of times code must be retrieved from bulk storage while instructions of the computer code 597 are executed. Moreover, similar to processor 591 memory devices 594, 595 may reside at a single physical location, including one or more types of data storage, or be distributed across a plurality of physical systems in various forms. Further, memory devices 594, 59 can include data distributed across, for example, a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN). Further, memory devices 594, 595 may include an operating system (not shown) and may include other systems not shown in FIG. 14.

[0046] In. some embodiments. the computer system 500 may further be coupled to an Input/output (I/O) interface and a computer data storage unit, An I/O interface may include any system for exchanging information to or from an input device 592 or output device 593. The output device 593 may be, inter aha, a printer, a plotter, a display device (such as a computer screen), a magnetic tape, a removable hard disk, a floppy disk, etc. The memory devices 594 and 595 may be, inter alia, a hard disk, a floppy disk, a magnetic tape, an optical storage such as a compact disc (CD) or a digital video disc (DVD), a dynamic random access memory (DRAM), a read-only memory (ROM), etc. The bus may provide a communication link between each of the components in computer 500, and may include any type of transmission link, including electrical, optical, wireless, etc.

[0047] FIG. 15 illustrates a method of using data from a flexible wearable ring assembly, the method comprising wearing a circular band portion designed to encircle a human finger, the top portion of the circular band portion designed to display a removable symbol portion, the removable symbol portion coupled to the top portion of the circular band portion 600. This embodiment further involves reading data disposed within at least one radio-frequency identification tag coupled to at least one or more of the circular band portion and the removable symbol portion 610. This method may further comprise accessing data via a peer-to-peer authentication system designed to authenticate an ongoing chain of hash-based proof-of-work code 620.

[0048] FIG. 16 illustrates a method of using data from a flexible wearable ring assembly, the method comprising wearing a circular band portion designed to encircle a human finger, the top portion of the circular band portion designed to display a removable symbol portion, the removable symbol portion coupled to the top portion of the circular band portion 630. This embodiment further involves loading data onto at least one radio-frequency identification tag coupled to at least one or more of the circular band portion and the removable symbol portion 640. The method of using a flexible wearable ring may further involve encoding data via a peer-to-peer authentication system designed to add to an ongoing chain of hash-based proof-of-work code 650.

[0049] The following patents are incorporated by reference in their entireties: U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,320,329, 20010020369A1, 20180167200A1, and 20190191829A1.

[0050] While the inventive concept has been described above in terms of specific embodiments, it is to be understood that the inventive concept is not limited to these disclosed embodiments. Upon reading the teachings of this disclosure many modifications and other embodiments of the inventive concept will come to mind of those skilled in the art to which this inventive concept pertains, and which are intended to be and are covered by both this disclosure and the appended claims. It is indeed intended that the scope of the inventive concept should be determined by proper interpretation and construction of the appended claims and their legal equivalents, as understood by those of skill in the art relying upon the disclosure in this specification and the attached drawings.

Claims

1. A flexible wearable ring assembly comprising: a circular band portion adapted to encircle a human finger; the top portion of the circular band portion adapted to display a removable symbol portion; and the removable symbol portion coupled to the top portion of the circular band portion.

2. The flexible wearable ring assembly of claim 1 wherein at least the circular band portion is made from a silicone-based compound.

3. The flexible wearable ring assembly of claim 2 wherein the removable symbol portion is made from a polymer-based compound.

4. The flexible wearable ring assembly of claim 1 wherein at least the circular band portion is made from a polymer-based compound.

5. The flexible wearable ring assembly of claim 2 wherein the circular band portion further comprises an interweaving of a first helical band and a second helical band each made from the silicone-based compound.

6. The flexible wearable ring assembly of claim 1 wherein a fitted portion of the circular band portion couples with a fitted portion of a second circular band portion adapted to encircle a human finger, the second circular band portion being attachable and detachable to the flexible wearable ring assembly.

7. The flexible wearable ring assembly of claim 1 wherein the removable symbol portion is interchangeable with at least one second removable symbol portion.

8. The flexible wearable ring assembly of claim 1 wherein the removable symbol portion is attached using at least one or more from a group of: a press stud, a popper, a snap, an adhesive, a hook and loop, a magnetic element, and grooved edges.

9. The flexible wearable ring assembly of claim 1 wherein the shape of the top portion of the circular band portion substantially matches the shape of the removable symbol portion.

10. The flexible wearable ring assembly of claim 1 wherein the removable symbol portion is shaped to serve as at least one or more of a key and a pass code.

11. The flexible wearable ring assembly of claim 1 wherein the removable symbol portion is electrically encoded to serve as at least one or more of a key and a pass code.

12. The flexible wearable ring assembly of claim 1 wherein at least one portion of the flexible wearable ring assembly displays at least one or more of a functional color or shape from at least one or more from a group of: luminescence, letters, words, icons, symbols, and visual codes for electric readers.

13. The flexible wearable ring assembly of claim 1 wherein the top portion of the circular band portion contains at least one radio-frequency identification tag, the at least one radio-frequency identification tag accessible by removing the removable symbol portion.

14. The flexible wearable ring assembly of claim 13 wherein the radio-frequency identification tag is coupled to the circular band portion.

15. The flexible wearable ring assembly of claim 13 wherein the radio-frequency identification tag is coupled to the removable symbol portion.

16. The flexible wearable ring assembly of claim 11 wherein the radio-frequency identification tag is encoded with blockchain data.

17. A method of using data from a flexible wearable ring assembly, the method comprising the steps of: wearing a circular band portion adapted to encircle a human finger, the top portion of the circular band portion adapted to display a removable symbol portion, the removable symbol portion coupled to the top portion of the circular band portion; and reading data disposed within at least one radio-frequency identification tag coupled to at least one or more of the circular band portion and the removable symbol portion.

18. The method of using a flexible wearable ring assembly of claim 17, the method further comprising accessing data via a peer-to-peer authentication system adapted to authenticate an ongoing chain of hash-based proof-of-work code.

19. A method of using a flexible wearable ring assembly, the method comprising the steps of: wearing a circular band portion adapted to encircle a human finger, the top portion of the circular band portion adapted to display a removable symbol portion, the removable symbol portion coupled to the top portion of the circular band portion; and loading data onto at least one radio-frequency identification tag coupled to at least one or more of the circular band portion and the removable symbol portion.

20. The method of using a flexible wearable ring assembly of claim 19, the method further comprising encoding data via a peer-to-peer authentication system adapted to add to an ongoing chain of hash-based proof-of-work code.