Ronald P Pratt

US Patent:

6557376, May 6, 2003

Filed:

Apr 13, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/834326

Inventors:

Ronald Pratt - Cumberland RI 02864

International Classification:

A44C 500

US Classification:

63 3, 63 23, 63 38

Abstract:

A jewelry article includes an elongated support and a multiplicity of ornaments strung along the support, at least one of which constitutes an adjustable self-stopping bead. Each self-stopping bead has a rigid shell with a pair of holes sized to slidably receive the support. A flexible resilient tube is positioned inside the shell in alignment with the holes that tube having a length that is as great as or slightly greater than the spacing of the holes, an outside diameter that is slightly larger than the diameter of the holes and in inside diameter that is slightly smaller than the maximum cross-sectional dimension of the support so that the tube resiliently engages the support to adjustably fix the position of the self-stopping bead along the support. A method of making the self-stopping bead is also disclosed.

US Patent:

6722036, Apr 20, 2004

Filed:

Feb 19, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/368735

Inventors:

Ronald Pratt - Cumberland RI 02864

International Classification:

A44C 2700

US Classification:

2989641, 29417, 29516, 2989642, 72416

Abstract:

A jewelry article includes an elongated support and a multiplicity of ornaments strung along the support, at least one of which constitutes an adjustable self-stopping bead. Each self-stopping bead has a rigid shell with a pair of holes sized to slidably receive the support. A flexible resilient tube is positioned inside the shell in alignment with the holes that tube having a length that is as great as or slightly greater than the spacing of the holes, an outside diameter that is slightly larger than the diameter of the holes and in inside diameter that is slightly smaller than the maximum cross-sectional dimension of the support so that the tube resiliently engages the support to adjustably fix the position of the self-stopping bead along the support. A method of making the self-stopping bead is also disclosed.

US Patent:

6739052, May 25, 2004

Filed:

Apr 19, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/126821

Inventors:

Ronald Pratt - Cumberland RI 02864

International Classification:

A44C 2700

US Classification:

2989643, 295272, 298964, 2959641, 2989642

Abstract:

A jewelry bead has a rigid hollow body with an exterior wall of a first metal and a covering of a second metal whose color is different from that of the first metal. The covering overlies one or more selected areas of the wall so as to define an all-metal substantially level color pattern on the bead. A method of making the jewelry bead is also disclosed.

US Patent:

7409763, Aug 12, 2008

Filed:

Feb 10, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/352051

Inventors:

Ronald Pratt - Cumberland RI, US

International Classification:

A44C 25/00
A44C 5/00
A44C 27/00

US Classification:

2989641, 63 38, 63 31, 63 34, 298964, 29447, 59 2

Abstract:

A jewelry article includes an elongated support and a multiplicity of beads strung along the support. At least one of the beads constitutes a locking bead consisting of a substantially closed hollow shell with a pair of aligned holes sized to slideably receive the support. A heat-shrinkable plastic tube is positioned inside the shell with its opposite ends captured by portions of said shell around the holes. The tube has a heat-deformed inner wall which substantially conforms to the support so as to permanently anchor the bead to the support. A method of stringing the locking bead is also disclosed.

US Patent:

20030080463, May 1, 2003

Filed:

Oct 26, 2001

Appl. No.:

10/015915

Inventors:

Jennifer Harris - So. Burlington VT, US
Monroe Moore - So.Burlington VT, US
Raymond Mainer - Hinesburg VT, US
Mark Antell - Colchester VT, US
Howard Fish - St. Albans VT, US
Ronald Pratt - Winooski VT, US

Assignee:

SPECIALTY FILAMENTS, INC. - Burlington VT

International Classification:

B29C047/88

US Classification:

264/17800F, 264/210800, 264/211140, 425/068000, 425/072200

Abstract:

An apparatus and a continuous process for manufacturing a ring-dyed polymeric filament. A filament, formed by melt extrusion is directly fed into a tank containing a dye solution for a predetermined period of time. The resulting ring-dyed filament includes an outer cross-sectional region colored with the dye and an inner cross-sectional region not colored with the dye. The outer cross-sectional region may be of uniform thickness over the length of the filament. A quenching step can be performed either before or during the ring-dyeing step.

US Patent:

20040154334, Aug 12, 2004

Filed:

Feb 2, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/769942

Inventors:

Ronald Pratt - Cumberland RI, US

International Classification:

A44C025/00

US Classification:

063/038000, 063/035000, 063/037000, 063/039000

Abstract:

A jewelry bead has a rigid hollow body with an exterior wall of a first metal and a covering of a second metal whose color is different from that of the first metal. The covering overlies one or more selected areas of the wall so as to define an all-metal substantially level color pattern on the bead.

US Patent:

20050166637, Aug 4, 2005

Filed:

Mar 30, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/093542

Inventors:

Ronald Pratt - Cumberland RI, US

International Classification:

A44C017/02

US Classification:

063038000

Abstract:

A jewelry bead has a rigid hollow body with an exterior wall of a first metal and embedments of a second metal whose color is different from that of the first metal. The embedments overlie one or more selected areas of the wall so as to define an all-metal substantially level color pattern on the outside of the bead.

US Patent:

20080022718, Jan 31, 2008

Filed:

Aug 6, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/834272

Inventors:

Ronald Pratt - Cumberland RI, US

International Classification:

A44C 5/00
A44C 5/02

US Classification:

063003100, 063003000, 063004000

Abstract:

A jewelry article includes an elongated support and a multiplicity of beads strung along the support. At least one of the beads constitutes a stopping bead consisting of a substantially closed hollow metal shell with a pair of holes sized to slideably receive the support. A heat shrink tube is positioned inside the shell with its opposite ends captured by portions of said shell around the holes. When heated, the tube shrinks radially into conformance with the support so as to permanently anchor the bead to the support.