The current application claims a priority to the U.S. Provisional Patent application serial number 62/366,794 filed on July 26, 2016.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to jewelry charms and the like. More particularly, the present invention is a totem pole vertical alignment charm system which allows users to wear and display one or more charms in a number of different arrangements.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Charm bracelets are a common form of jewelry which allow users to attach charms in various personalized combinations. Many charm bracelets include charms which are not designed to be used as other forms of jewelry, such as necklaces and earrings. As a result, users are limited in how many ways charms may be worn and displayed. Furthermore, bracelets generally only permit charms to be attached individually or horizontally along the bracelet. This can become an issue for users who may wish to display a large number of charms.

Accordingly, there is a present need for an improved system of using charms as jewelry. The present invention is a totem pole vertical alignment charm system which may be used to wear and display one or more charms on a bracelet, a necklace, a pair of earrings, or a number of other wearable articles. The system comprises a mounting pole which is used to hold one or more charms. When attaching multiple charms to the mounting pole, each charm is stacked vertically like a totem pole. This allows users to display multiple charms without cluttering an entire necklace or bracelet. The mounting pole includes a mounting loop which allows the user to attach the mounting pole to various wearable fastening articles, including a bracelet clasp, a neck ring, or a leverback interchangeable earring. The mounting pole comprises at least one alignment groove which engages with the charms to lock the orientation of each charm relative to the mounting pole.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the mounting pole.

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the charm.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the charm.

FIG. 5 is a right cross-sectional view taken along the line 5-5 in FIG. 4.

FIG. d is an exploded front perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an exploded rear perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a front view of the present invention with the wearable fastening article.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

With reference to FIGS. 1-3, the present invention is a totem pole vertical alignment charm system that may be used for displaying one or more charms in a linear arrangement resembling a traditional totem pole. The present invention comprises a mounting pole 1, and at least one charm 6. The mounting pole 1 is used to hold the charm 6 in place on a piece of jewelry. The mounting pole 1 comprises a tube 2, a base 3, a mounting loop 4, and at least one alignment groove 5. The tube 2 is connected normal to the base 3. The tube 2 is used to attach the charm 6 onto the mounting pole 1. Across various embodiments of the present invention, the tube 2 may vary in length in order to accommodate greater or fewer charms 6. The arrangement between the tube 2 and the base 3 prevents the charm 6 from sliding off of the tube 2. The mounting loop 4 is terminally connected to the tube 2, opposite to the base 3. The mounting loop 4 is used to attach the mounting pole 1 to a necklace, bracelet, or some form of jewelry. The mounting loop 4 is sized so as not to extend past the diameter of the tube 2. This allows the charm 6 to be easily slid over the mounting loop 4 and onto the tube 2. The alignment groove 5 is laterally connected along the tube 2 from the mounting loop 4 to the base 3. The alignment groove 5 can be used to engage with the charm 6 in order to lock the orientation of the charm 6 in a certain direction relative to the tube 2.

In reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, the charm 6 comprises a charm body 7 and a mounting hole 8. The charm body 7 may be made into any shape or design that is desired by the user. The mounting hole 8 traverses through the charm body 7 such that the tube 2 may be positioned through the mounting hole 8. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the mounting hole 8 is circular in shape. This would allow charms 6 that are not engaged with the alignment groove 5 to rotate about the tube 2. When the charm 6 is mounted onto the mounting pole 1, the charm body 7 is situated in between the base 3 and the mounting loop 4. The arrangement between the mounting pole 1 and the charm 6 allows for one or more charms 6 to be interchanged as desired by the user.

In reference to FIGS. 4-5, the charm 6 further comprises an alignment protrusion

9. The alignment protrusion 9 is positioned within the mounting hole 8 and is internally mounted to the charm body 7. This arrangement allows for the alignment protrusion 9 to be slidably engaged with the alignment groove 5. As previously mentioned, the engagement between the alignment protrusion 9 and the alignment groove 5 is used to lock the orientation of the charm body 7 relative to the tube 2. In an alternative embodiment, the at least one alignment groove 5 is a plurality of alignment grooves 5 which is distributed about the tube 2. This arrangement allows the user to selectively engage the alignment protrusion 9 with the alignment groove 5 of their choice. By doing so, the user can lock one or more of the charms 6 in varying orientations. In the event that the at least one charm 6 is a plurality of charms 6, the plurality of charms 6 is serially positioned along the tube 2. This is shown in FIGS. 6-7. Because each charm 6 is slidably engaged with the tube 2, the user is able to interchange charms 6 along the tube 2, creating a variety of combinations.

In reference to FIG. 5 and FIG. 7, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the charm 6 further comprises a first opening 10 and a second opening 11. The first opening 10 and the second opening 11 are positioned opposite to each other along the mounting hole 8. The charm 6 and the mounting tube 2 are oriented such that the second opening 11 is positioned in between the first opening 10 and the base 3. The alignment protrusion 9 is positioned adjacent to the second opening 11. This is done to ensure that the alignment protrusion 9 does not inadvertently become dislodged from the alignment groove 5. Because the second opening 11 is located closer to the base 3 than the first opening 10, the charm body 7 must slide further along the tube 2 in order for the alignment protrusion 9 to disengage with the alignment groove 5.

Instead of locking the orientation of the charm body 7, the charm body 7 may be rotatably and slidably engaged along the tube 2. This can be achieved when the charm 6 does not include an alignment protrusion 9. In this situation, the charm 6 may be oriented at any angle relative to the tube 2. Further, when more than one charm 6 is attached to the mounting tube 2, each of the charms 6 may be oriented at various angles. Overall, this arrangement gives users a greater number of customizable arrangements between the mounting pole 1 and the charm 6.

In reference to FIG. 8, the present invention further comprises a wearable fastening article 12. The wearable fastening article 12 is used to attach the present invention to a portion of the user's body. The wearable fastening article 12 is attached about the mounting loop 4. The wearable fastening article 12 may be a leverback interchangeable earring, a bracelet clasp, a neck ring, or various other types of jewelry articles. This arrangement allows the mounting pole 1 and charm 6 to be swapped in and out of various types of wearable fastening articles 12.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred

embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.