CA1073231A - Clasp for jewelry chain - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE:

A clasp for jewelry chains which comprises a hook and separate keeper member, the hook and keeper members being attached to respective opposite ends of the chain. The keeper member has a curved channel segment conforming in shape to a curved segment of the hook member such that the hook member is slid within the channel section and held in place by dynamic tension, while a shank section of the hook member is snap-fitted between two spaced-apart shoulders formed in a mouth portion of the keeper member to securely hold the hook and keeper member together.

Description

I BA~KGROUND OF THE INVENTION: I
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This invention relates to a clasp for jewelry chains, and more particularly, for a clasp which is simple and effective in loperation.
¦ Clasps for jewelry are often unattractive and difficult to ~se. Frictional fitting members often separate after long periods of use while ring and hook type assemblies are both unattractive ¦and often ineffective in operation after a period of time.
¦ An object of this lnvention is to provide an improved clasp ¦for jewelry chains and the like.
¦ Another object of this invention is to provide such a ¦jewelry clasp which is simple and efficient in operation.
¦ Yet another object of this invention is to provide such a ¦clasp which may be artistically attractive and enhance the chain and jewelry to which it is attached.
Still another object of this invention is to provide such a jewelry clasp which can be efficiently manuacturedO
Ano~her object of this invention is to provide a jewelry clasp which is securely held together.
Other o~jects, advantages and features of this in~ention ill become more apparent from the following description.

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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the principles of this invention, the above objects are accomplished by providing a clasp for jewelry chains which comprises separate hook and keeper members, the hook member comprising a shank segment and a hook segment, with the hook segment being curved and having a distal end. The keeper member is also curved with the curvature of both the keeper and hook members being the same, so as to permit the hook member to fit within the keeper member. The keeper member is provided with a channel por-tion terminating in a mouth section, the mouth section being formed of oppositely ex~ending shoulder portions. The distal end of the hook segment is placed in the mouth portion and the hook is then pivoted about the center of the curvature of the cha~nel portion o~
the keeper with the curved hook segment moving in the channel sec-tion of the keeper member. The shank portion of the hook member has a width slightly greater than the spacing between the shoulder members, and the hook member is irmly snapped into place between the shoulder members. When fully inserted in place, the hook and keeper are securely held together and the chain attached there-by is securely closed. Repeated and long usage will not detract from the security of the connection because of the dynamic tension which holds the hook and keeper members together due to the simi-larly shaped arcuate or curved portions thereof.

.. - ., : , ~()'J~31 sRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:
Fig. 1 is a plan view of the hook and keeper members of this invention being attached to a jewelry chain;
Fig. 2 is a partial sectional view showing the hook and keeper members separately;
Fig. 3 is a partial sectional view showing the hook member ¦
fully inserted within the keeper member;
Fig. 4 is an end view showing the shank portion of the hook member fitting between the extending shoulder portions forming the mouth segment of the keeper member;
Fig. 5 is a sectional view along lines 5-5 of Fig~ 3.

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~ 3'~3 DETAILED DESCRIPTION:

Referring to the drawings, there is shown in Fig. 1 a jewelry chain 10 having opposite ends connected to a keeper member 12 and a hook member 14. The hook member 14 is adapted to be seated and fit within the keeper member 12 in accordance with the principles of this invention. It should be noted that the keeper member 12 is capable of assuming an artistic shape which enhances its marketability and its desirability in both function and use.
Referring to Fig~. 2, there is shown the keeper and hook member in greater detail, with the keeper member being formed as the letter B, and the hook member having a curved or arcuately shaped hook segment 16 attached to a shank segment 18 forming the hook. The shape of hook segment 16 conforms to the arcuate shape of a channel portion 20 formed within the bottom portion of the letter B, the complementary curved sections enabling the hook segment 16 to fully fit within the curved bottom portion of the B
20 enabling a secure and tight fit.
Referring to Figs. 3, there is shown in more detail the hook segment 16 fitting within the curved channel 20 of keeper member 12. It should be noted that the distal end 22 of the hook member is first fitted into a mouth portion 24 of the keeper member (Fig. 2) and the hook member is then pivoted around the center of the arcuate shape of the channel 20 enabling it to be fully inserte 1 within the channel 20.
Re~erring to Fig. 4, there is shown a pair of oppositely extending shouldsrs 26 ~orming the mouth portion and the shank 18 of the hoo~ member, it being no ed that the distance between the . .
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houlder portions 26-26 is less than the thic~cness of the shank ember 18, so that when the hook is fully inserted within the eeper member 12, the shank 18 is snap fitted into place further ecuring the fit between the hook and keeper members.
Referring to Fig. 5, there is shown a sectional view through lines S-5 Gf Fig. 3 illustrating that the cross sectional hape of hook segments 16 is circular in shape conforming to the hape of the channel section 20 formed in the lower portion of the etter B illustrated in Fig. 2~
¦ When the hook portion is fully inserted within the keeper ~ember as illustrated in Fig. 3, the chain is securel~ fastened ecause of the dynamic tension formed between the hook segment 16 ~esting within the channel segment 20, and further securely support ~d by the snap action of the opposing shoulder members 26 coopera-¦ting with the shank 18.
¦ It can be appreciated that the shape of the keeper 12 can ~e any desired configuration so long as the hook and keeper segment ~re provided with arcuately shaped conforming surfaces enabling the ~ook member to be fully inserted within the keeper member and ~hannel portion thereof to secure the jewelry clasp together.
¦ The a~ove invention has been described with particular em-~hasis on the embodiments disclosed above, but other variations can nd are to be considered as part of the principles of this inven-ion within the constraints and limitations of the enclosed claims.

Claims (2)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN
EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A clasp for jewelry chains comprising a hook member and a keeper member, said hook member having a shank segment and a hook segment, said hook segment being arcuate in shape and having a distal end, said keeper member comprising an arcuately shaped enclosed channel section, the arcuate shape of said channel sec-tion conforming to the arcuate shape of said hook segment, one end of said arcuately shaped channel section being closed and the other end terminating in an open mouth portion, said mouth portion being adapted to receive the distal end of said hook segment, said channel section and said hook segment cooperating to permit said hook member to pivot about the center of the arcuate shape of said channel section and fully slide within said channel section with only the shank segment remaining outside said channel section, said mouth portion comprising spaced apart shoulder members, the shoulder members being spaced apart a distance slightly less than the thickness of said shank segment, said shank segment being received past said shoulder members with a shap fit when said hook segment is fully inserted in said channel section, wherein said hook member is of a length such that its distal end terminates short of said closed end of said channel section in a direction substan-tially perpendicular to the direction of the jewelry chain con-nected at said hook and keeper members, whereby the hook member and the keeper member are held together in an arcuate configuration of substantially less circumference than a circle by complete mating of said hook segment with said channel section for dynamic ten-sion at the distal end of said hook member, and by said snap fit.

2. A clasp for jewelry chains as set forth in Claim 1 wherein said keeper member is attached to one end of said chain and said arcuately shaped channel section forms one part of an artistic shape.