Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A44—HABERDASHERY; JEWELLERY
  • A44C—PERSONAL ADORNMENTS, e.g. JEWELLERY; COINS
  • A44C5/00—Bracelets; Wrist-watch straps; Fastenings for bracelets or wrist-watch straps
  • A44C5/18—Fasteners for straps, chains or the like
  • A44C5/20—Fasteners for straps, chains or the like for open straps, chains or the like
  • A44C5/2076—Fasteners for straps, chains or the like for open straps, chains or the like with the two ends of the strap or chain abutting each other or sliding in the main plane or a plane parallel to the main plane of these two ends

Definitions

• the invention relates to a clasp for fastening together the two ends of a link such as a jewelry chain.
• clasps are known for attaching the two ends of a flexible link together, such as a jewelry chain, or a necklace or bracelet.
• These clasps which are generally small in order not to disturb the overall appearance of the link, include closing mechanisms comprising locking pieces which are also small.
• closing mechanisms comprising locking pieces which are also small.
• the engagement of these parts to close and lock the clasp or, on the contrary, the separation of these parts for the opening of the clasp often requires manipulations which are quite difficult to perform and require a certain dexterity as well as A good view.
• the invention aims to eliminate the difficulties which have just been indicated by providing a clasp arranged in a particularly simple manner and the opening and closing maneuvers of which are very easy and require neither skill nor visual acuity in particular. These maneuvers can even possibly be carried out without difficulty in the dark.
• the clasp according to the invention has the characteristics specified in the claim.
• Figs 1 A and 1 B are perspective views of the clasp, respectively in the open and closed position;
• Figs 2 A to 2 C are partial schematic sectional views of the clasp showing the relative positions of the parts of this clasp as well as the configuration of the male part in three successive phases of the closing operation.
• the clasp comprises a male part l, the front part of which forms a hollow ball 3, the wall of which has, on its front face, two slots 4 and 4 ', perpendicular to each other, each extending over an arc of the '' order of 270 ° (for example, between 210 and 300 °).
• the interior space of the ball 3 is completely filled with a spherical body 5, made of elastically deformable material (better visible in Figs 2 A to 2 C), which tends to spread the edges of the slots 4 and A '.
• the rear face of the ball 3, opposite to that which has the slots 4 and 4 ', is fixed on an elongated rear part consisting of a frustoconical appendix 6 which carries a first ring 7, joined to a second ring 8 on which is fixed , by an intermediate link 9, the first link 10 (Fig. 1 B) placed at one of the free ends of a jewelry chain (not shown).
• the clasp further comprises a female part 2, the front part 1 1 of which also has the shape of a hollow ball, the interior of which constitutes a housing 12 for the ball part 3 of the male part 1.
• the housing 12 has a circular orifice 13 for the introduction of the ball 3, and the edges of this orifice 13 are rigid and undeformable.
• the diameter of the orifice 13 is such that it allows the introduction of the ball 3 into the housing 13, provided that it exerts on the male part 1, preferably held by pinching the appendix 6 between the thumb and the 'index, sufficient effort to allow the passage of force of the ball 3 through the orifice 13, thanks to a reduction in the diameter of the ball 3 to a value corresponding to that of the orifice 13, by mutual approximation of the respective edges of the slots 4 and 4 '.
• the ball 3 In the closed position illustrated in FIG. 1 B, the ball 3 is housed in the housing 12 and it remains retained inside the latter due to the increase in its diameter under the effect of the elastic force exerted by the internal ball 5, up to a value greater than the diameter of the orifice 13.
• the rear part, opposite the orifice 13, of the ball 1 1 of the female part 2 is, similarly to the appendix 6 of the male part 1, fixed to a ring 7 ', identical to the ring 7 , and the ring 7 'is itself, joined to a ring 8' identical to the ring 8 and carrying an intermediate link 9 'connected to the first link 10' of the end of the chain (not shown), opposite to the one wearing the male part of the clasp.
• the ball 3 In the position shown in FIG. 2 B, the ball 3 is engaged in the orifice 13 and passes through it thanks to the fact that its diameter is reduced to a value corresponding to the diameter of the orifice 13, overcoming the elastic force exerted by the body 5 .
• the opening of the clasp from the position shown in Figs 1 B and 2 C, can be carried out by simply pivoting, preferably with a sharp blow, the male part 1, relative to the female part 2, by holding one of these pieces with two fingers in the right hand and the other in the left hand, the ball 3 coming to rest against the edge of the orifice 13.
• a relatively high force is thus generated, on a part of the line of contact between the outer wall of the ball 3 and the edge of the orifice 13, as a result of the leverage effect resulting from the support of the ball 3 against the edge of the orifice 13 on another part of this same contact line.
• This force causes the respective edges of the slots 4 and 4 ′ to approach each other by reducing the diameter of the ball 3 to a value allowing it to exit the housing 12.
• the different parts of the clasp which have just been described are advantageously made of precious metal, such as platinum, gold or silver, or an alloy of such a metal corresponding, for example, to the constituent materials of the chain. of jewelry.
• the ball 3 of the male part 1 is produced in such a way that, in the absence of the internal body 5, the respective edges of the slots 4 and 4 'would tend to touch, the slots 4 and 4' then being completely closed due to the elasticity of the walls of the ball 3, in this case, the tendency for the edges of the slots 4 to spread apart and 4 ′, with the opening of these slots and increase in the diameter of the ball 3, results from the fact that the elastic force exerted by the internal body 5 is greater than the opposing force exerted by the walls of the external ball 3.
• the choice of the elastic material used for the production of the inner body 5 is, of course, decisive with a view to obtaining a good functioning of the clasp.
• the diameter of the ball 3 has a value of the order of 2 to 3 mm, the clasp being made of platinum, using an inner body 5 of hard rubber.
• this inner body 5 could be made of any other suitable material, for example, of synthetic polymer resin.
• the choice of the material constituting the inner body 5 is made according to the nature of the material used for the production of the ball 3.
• the ball 3 has a spherical shape
• this ball could have a shape different from that of a sphere, for example slightly flattened, similar to that of a lens , or an ovoid shape, the shapes of the housing 12 and the orifice 13 then being adapted to that of the ball or curved part 3.
• the clasp according to the invention is capable of receiving very varied uses; in addition to those which immediately follow from the description given above, for example as a device for attaching earrings.

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• 1994
  • 1994-05-25 WO PCT/IB1994/000124 patent/WO1994027462A1/fr not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1994-05-25 EP EP94914537A patent/EP0700258A1/de not_active Withdrawn

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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