GB2274383A

GB2274383A - Bracelet

Info

Publication number: GB2274383A
Application number: GB9226321A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Trevor Knight; Raymond Caldicott
Original assignee: BRACELON
Current assignee: BRACELON
Priority date: 1992-12-17
Filing date: 1992-12-17
Publication date: 1994-07-27
Anticipated expiration: 2012-12-17
Also published as: GB9226321D0; GB2274383B

Abstract

A bracelet of the bangle type is made preferably from two hollow parts (12, 15) having interengaging formations at their respective (16, 18 and 17, 19), the ends being urged towards each other to form a substantially rigid bangle by a spring (20) passing around the bracket internally of the parts so that it is not visible. The bracelet may have a hinge (32) (not shown). The invention overcomes the problems of having to provide a fastening to keep the bangle closed and provides a more economical construction. <IMAGE>

Description

PATENTS ACT 1977 Title: Articles of Adornment Description of Invention The present invention relates to an article of adornment and is primarily but not exclusively related to a bracelet or at least an article of adornment which may be annular, oval or some other loop-like configuration which is normally worn on the wrist of a person.

It will be appreciated that such an article, albeit of different size, may be worn around the neck, ankle or arm and it is intended that any such article may be encompassed in the word bracelet as used herein.

The present invention has particular relevance to bracelets of hollow crosssection manufactured in a manner to give the appearance of a solid article. Solid bracelets or bangles are well known and may be formed as an annulus without any break and the wearer can slip the bangle over the hand and onto the wrist.

A more pleasing article usually has a smaller diameter and fits more closely to the wrist and in such cases it is necessary to provide a hinge and catch, usually diametrically opposed to enable the wearer to place the bracelet over the hand and onto the wrist.

Such constructions have been known for many years and are perfectly satisfactory albeit considerable skill and craftsmanship is necessary to produce a good quality article and, since such articles are normally made from precious metals, including the hinge and catch, the cost of producing such articles is considerable. Furthermore, the precious metals from which such articles are made are not always entirely suitable for providing hinges and/or catches.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new or improved bracelet.

According to one aspect of the present invention we provide a bracelet having a plurality of parts which together form a substantially closed loop, said parts having at least one separable connection the formation of said connection, when in a connected position, being adapted to locate said parts in a predeterrnined shape of closed loop and resilient means acting to urge said parts into said connected position.

Preferably said bracelet comprises two parts and conveniently both connections between said two parts are separable.

Preferably each of said connections comprises a sleeve-like member on one of said parts, the other of said parts engaging round or within said sleeve.

Preferably said parts are hollow and resilient means may be positioned internally of said parts and connected in a manner to urge said separable interconnections towards each other.

Preferably said resilient means comprises a convoluted spring-like member extending around said bracelet.

Alternatively other resilient means may be provided such as a natural or artificial rubber like member situated internally of the void provided in said hollow bracelet so as to be concealed when the parts of said bracelet are in their connected position.

Preferably the interconnection when engaged enables said bracelet to have a substantially rigid state.

As a further alternative said bracelet may have one separable connection and a hinged connection positioned approximately diametrically opposite said separable connection, said hinge being provided with resilient means to urge said separable connection into an engaged position. Said interconnecting formations ensuring proper alignment of the ends of said separable connection.

In the case where the hinged connection is resiliently biased to close the separable connection, it will be appreciated that the separable connection may not have to close entirely so long as it is urged to an "engaged" position by the resilient means. In such a case the substantially closed loop formed by the bracelet when worn may have a small gap between the "engaged" ends.

Conveniently said bracelet may be manufactured in accordance with the methods described in British Patent Application - filed 8th December 1992.

The invention will now be described in more detail by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: FIGURE 1 illustrates one embodiment of the invention; FIGURE 2 illustrates a second embodiment of the invention; FIGURE 3 is an illustration of a third embodiment of the invention; FIGURE 4 is an illustration of the embodiment shown in Figure 3 with the parts in their connected position.

Referring first to Figure 1, one embodiment of bracelet is shown the bracelet comprising two parts generally indicated at 10 and 11, each part 10 and 11 having a substantially planar inner surface 12 and 13 respectively and a convex outer surface 14 and 15 respectively.

The part 11 is provided with two sleeve-like members 16 and 17 which are firmly secured to the part 11, for example by soldering, and within which the ends 18 and 19 respectively of the part 10 may fit so that the connecting ends of the parts 10 and 11 may abut each other.

In order to urge the ends to their connected position, a convoluted springlike member 20 is provided, the spring being "threaded" through the two parts 10 and 11 of the bracelet and then having the ends joined together so that the bracelet will constantly have its parts 10 and 11 urged into their engaged position, the sleeve-like members 16 and 17 ensuring correct alignment of the connecting ends.

The spring-like member 20 easily enables the two parts to be separated so that the bracelet may be passed over the wearer's hand.

Referring now to Figure 2 an alternative embodiment is illustrated, the two parts 30 and 31 may be substantially the same as the two parts 10 and 11 with reference to Figure 1. However, in this case one pair of interengaging ends is connected by a hinge like member 32 and the two separable ends are of the same construction as the separable ends described with reference to Figure 1.

The part 31 is provided with a sleeve-like member 33 within which the end 34 may fit, a resilient member 35 urging the two ends towards each other.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 2 the resilient member 35, which is shown as a convoluted spring, similar to the convoluted spring 20, may have each of its ends extending as far as the hinge 32 or may have its ends fixed in any suitable manner some way along the length of each part 30 and 31.

As a further alternative, the convoluted spring 35 may be replaced by some other resilient material, such as a natural or artificial rubber or the hinge 32 could be provided with resilient means, for example a leaf spring extending along and internally of the parts 30 and 31 and being of a configuration to urge the end 34 within the sleeve 33. A force used to separate the end 34 from the sleeve 33 resiliently deforming the spring provided in the region of the hinge 32.

Referring now to Figures 3 and 4, an alternative configuration of separable ends are shown and in this case rather than an external sleeve part a part 40 is provided with an internal sleeve 41.

The other part 42 has an end part 43 dimensionally the same as the part 40 and which fits over the sleeve 41 such that the end part 43 can abut the end 44 of part 40.

The engaged position is shown in Figure 4.

Any suitable resilient means may be provided such as the convoluted spring 45 which acts to urge the ends 43 and 44 into contact with each other but also enables easy separation to allow the bracelet to pass over the wearer's hand.

Whereas the above described embodiments had two parts, it will be appreciated that the bracelet may be formed from as many parts as desired, providing always there is at least one separable connection with the ends of that separable connection being provided with some form of guide means to enable proper alignment of the ends and being resiliently urged towards each other.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in the terms or means for performing the desired function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, may, separately or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A bracelet having a plurality of parts which together form a substantially closed loop, said parts having at least one separable connection, the formation of said connection, when in a connected position, being adapted to locate said parts in a predetermined shape of closed loop and resilient means acting to urge said parts into said connected position.

2. A bracelet according to Claim 1 wherein said bracelet comprises two parts.

3. A bracelet according to Claim 2 wherein both connections between said two parts are separable.

4. A bracelet according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the or each connection comprises a sleeve like member on one of said parts, the other of said parts engaging around or within said sleeve.

5. A bracelet according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said parts are hollow and resilient means are positioned internally of said parts and connected in a manner to urge said separable interconnections towards each other.

6. A bracelet according to Claim 5 wherein said resilient means comprises convoluted spring like member extending around said bracelet.

7. A bracelet according to Claim 5 wherein said resilient means comprises a natural or artificial rubber like member situated internally of the void provided in said hollow bracelet in a manner so as to be concealed when the parts of said bracelet are in their connected position.

8. A bracelet according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the interconnection between the parts are such that the bracelet has a substantially rigid state when said parts are in their connected position.

9. A bracelet according to Claim 1 wherein said bracelet has a single separable connection and a hinged connection positioned approximately diametrically opposite said separable connection, said hinge being provided with resilient means to urge said separable connection from an engaged position.

10. A bracelet according to Claim 9 wherein interconnecting formation at the end of parts providing said separable connection are such that proper alignment of the ends of said separable connection are made when said separable connection is urged into its connected position.

A A bracelet substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.

12. A bracelet substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.

13. A bracelet substantially as hereinbefore described and having at least one separable end connection substantially as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.

14. A bracelet including any novel feature or novel combination of features disclosed therein and/or illustrated in the accompanying drawings.