GB2175192A

GB2175192A - Fastening means

Info

Publication number: GB2175192A
Application number: GB08507768A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Donald Vaughan
Original assignee: Maurice Kirsch
Current assignee: Maurice Kirsch
Priority date: 1985-03-26
Filing date: 1985-03-26
Publication date: 1986-11-26
Also published as: GB8507768D0

Abstract

A fastening (1) is designed to secure an end (2) of a flexible member such as a jewellery string (3) to an eye (4) on another member such as a clasp (5). The fastener (1) has a first elongate member (7) with a free end for attachment to a loop (8) formed on the string (3), a second elongate member (10) with a free end for attachment to the eye (4), and a retaining split collar (12). In an open position the ends of the collar (12) are spaced apart to allow the free ends of the members (7 and 10) to pass through the loop (8) and eye (4) respectively, the fastener (1) then being moved into a closed position in which the ends of the collar (12) are brought together to capture the free ends of the members (7, 10) to prevent removal of the loop (8) and eye (4) from the members (7, 10). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Fastening means This invention relates to meansforfastening an end of a flexible member to an eye on another member, and in particularto means for fastening the end of a jewellery necklet or other string to the eye of a clasp.

Difficulties may arise in connecting the end of a flexible member to an eye of another member. For example, in the jewellery trade a necklet or bracelet string is normally fastened to the eye on a clasp by threading the end of the string through the eye, and then forming the end of the string into a loop. This method of connection means that it is awkward and time-consuming to change the clasp on a necklet or bracelet if it needs replacement for any reason.

According to our invention, means for fastening an end of a flexible member to an eye on another member comprises a fastening device having a first connecting means for attachment to the end of the flexible member, a second connecting means for attachment to the eye, the second connecting means being in the form of an elongate member with a free end, and a retaining member, the device being constructed and arranged such that in an open position the retaining member allows the end of the flexible member to be attached to the first connecting means, and allows the free end of the elongate member to pass through the eye, and in a closed position the retaining member is operative to retain the end of the flexible member attached to the first connecting means, and also co-operates with the free end ofthe elongate member to prevent removal of the eye from the elongate member.

The fastening device thus provides a convenient and easily releasable means of connecting the end of a flexible member to an eye on another member.

It is particularly useful when it is used for connecting a necklet or bracelet string to a clasp, as it enables the clasp to be changed easily.

Preferably the retaining means comprises a split collar, which in the open position has its ends spaced apart, and in the closed position has its ends brought together to capture the free end of the elongate member. The collar may also act as the first connecting means, such that in the open position the end of the flexible member is inserted into the collar, and in the closed position the collar is crimped round the flexible member to hold it firmly.

It is preferable however for the end of the flexible member to be formed into a loop, and for the first connecting means to comprise an elongate member with a free end, the arrangement being such that in the open position the free end can be passed through the loop, and in the closed position the split collar co-operates with the free end to prevent removal of the loop. It will be noted that this construction can be used to join any two loops or eyes formed on any kinds of members.

The other ends of the elongate members may be connected to the collar in any suitable way.

Preferably however the collar and the elongate members are formed integrally, with the elongate members located on opposing edges of the collar.

The elongate member of the second connecting means has a curved portion terminating in a straight free end portion of substantial length. In the open position the elongate member lies outside the collar, but in the closed position the straight free end portion engages the internal surface of the collar over substantially the whole of its length. The elongate member of the first connecting means is preferably of recurved outline. In the open position its free end lies outside the collar, and in the closed position spaced portions of the elongate member engage the internal surface of the collar at opposed points, and the elongate member lies within the collar. As a consequence, the loop on the flexible member is at least partly concealed by the collar, and may also be gripped by the collarto enhance the connection.

An embodiment of our invention is illustrated, by way of example only, in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view (with part broken away) showing a fastening device in a position of use in a necklace; Figure 2 is a longitudinal section through the device in its open position; Figure 3 is an end view of the device of Figure 2; and Figures 4 and 5 are similar to Figures 2 and 3, but show the device in its closed position.

Figure 1 shows a fastening device 1 for connecting an end 2 of a flexible members in this case a necklet string 3 - to an eye 4 on another members in this case a necklace clasp 5. The device 1 has a first connecting means 6 in the form of a first elongate member 7 for attachment to a loop 8 formed on the end of the string 3, a second connecting means 9 in the form of a second elongate member 10 for attachment to the eye 4 and a retaining member 11, in the form of a split collar 12.

The device which is typically about 4 mm in length, is formed from sheet metal about 0.3 mm thick. The device is formed from a blank, with the collar 12, and the elongate members 7 and 10 formed integrally, the elongate members being located on opposing edges 13, 14 of the collar 12.

The blank is then deformed by pressing or stamping so that it assumes the open position shown in Figures 2 and 3.

In this position the collar 12 is substantially cylindrical in shape, but hays its free ends 15, 16 spaced apart. The first elongate member 7 is of recurved outline, with its free end portion 17 projecting outside the collar 12 between the free ends 15, 16. The second elongate member 10 has a curved portion 18 terminating in a straight free end portion 19 of substantial length. All of the second elongate member 10 lies outside the collar 12, and its shape provides it with inherent resilience. Thus in the open position the arrangement is such as to allow the free ends 17, 19 of the elongate members 7, lOto be passed through the loop 8 and the eye 4 respectively. The device 1 can then be closed to prevent removal of the loop and the eye.

In the closed position shown in Figures 4 and 5 the ends 15, 16 of the collar 12 are brought together.

The free end 19 of the member 10 engages the internal surface of the collar 12 over substantially the whole of its length, and is biased into engagement with the collar by its resilience. The curved portion 18 of the member 10 forms a loop outside the collar. An intermediate portion 20 of the first member 7 engages the free end 19 of the second member 10, while the free end 17 ofthe first member7 engages the internal surface of the collar 12 at an opposed circumferential point.

Substantially all of the first member 7 lies within the collar 12 in the closed position. Thus, in this position the collar 12 and the members 7, 10 co-operate to prevent removal of the eye 4 and the loop 8 from the device 1.

The preferred method of using the device 1 to attach the loop 8 to the eye 4 is firstly to insert the free end 17 ofthefirst member7 through the loop 8, and then to crimp the first member 7 until the free end 17 engages the collar 12. Next, the free end 19 of the second member 10 is inserted through the eye 4, the second member 10 then being pressed inwardly so that itis captured as the ends ofthe collar 12 are brought together. In the closed position, a substantial portion of the loop 8 lies within the collar 12. This provides a neat appearance, and also means that the loop 8 may be gripped by the collar 12, thus enhancing the connection.

The device 1 provides an effective, convenient and attractive way ofjoining a necklet or bracelet string to a clasp. It is intended to be permanent, but if for any reason it needs to be removed, this can be done simply by opening the device 1 up again.

Claims

1. Means for fastening an end of a flexible member to an eye on another member comprising a fastening device having a first connecting means for attachment to the end of the flexible member, a second connecting means for attachment to the eye, the second connecting means being in the form of an elongate member with a free end, and a retaining member, the device being constructed and arranged such that in an open position the retaining member allows the end oftheflexible member to be attached to the first connecting means, and allows the free end of the elongate member to pass through the eye, and in a closed position the retaining member is operative to retain the end of the flexible member attached to the first connecting means, and also cooperates with the free end of the elongate member to prevent removal of the eye from the elongate member.

2. Fastening means as claimed in Claim 1, in which the retaining member also acts as the first connecting means, such that in the open position the end of the flexible member is inserted into the retaining member, and in the closed position the retaining member holds the flexible member firmly.

3. Fastening means as claimed in Claim 1, in which the free end of the flexible member is formed into a loop, and the first connecting means comprises an elongate member with a free end, the arrangement being such that in the open position the free end can be passed through the loop, and in the closed position the retaining member cooperates with the free end to prevent removal of the loop.

4. Fastening means as claimed in any proceeding claim, in which the retaining member comprises a split collar, which in the open position has its ends spaced apart, and in the closed position has its ends brought together to capture the free end of the elongate member or members.

5. Fastening means as claimed in Claim 3 and Claim 4, in which the collar and the elongate members are formed integrally, with the elongate members located on opposing edges of the collar.

6. Fastening means as claimed in Claim 5, in which the elongate member of the second connecting means has a curved portion terminating in a straight free end portion of substantial length; in the open position the elongate member lies outside the collar, and in the closed position the straight free end portion engages the internal surface of the collar over substantially the whole of its length.

7. Fastening means as claimed in Claim 5 or Claim 6, in which the elongate member of the first connecting means is of recurved outline; in the open position its free end lies outside the collar, and in the closed position spaced portions of the elongate member engage the internal surface of the collar at opposed points, and the elongate member lies within the collar.

8. Means for fastening an end of a flexible member to an eye on another member substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.