US20100229356A1

US20100229356A1 - Jewelry clasp anchoring device

Info

Publication number: US20100229356A1
Application number: US12/709,539
Authority: US
Inventors: Colleen P. LaRocque
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-03-13
Filing date: 2010-02-22
Publication date: 2010-09-16

Abstract

An anchoring device includes a base attachable to skin or clothing of a user and a loop to which a clasp or other element of a necklace or other loosely encircling item can be fixed, thereby preventing rotation of the encircling item about the user's neck, ankle, wrist, waist, or other body portion. The base can be moisture resistant, and can include hook attachment to clothing or adhesive attachment to clothing or skin. The base can blend in appearance with skin or clothes. The loop can blend in appearance with the clasp. Or the base and/or loop can be translucent or transparent. The device can include a plurality of loops. A removable, adhesive-protecting backing can be included, and a plurality of anchors can be provided on a common backing sheet. The loop can be flexible, foldable, and/or can include a clasping mechanism. The base and/or adhesive can be hypo-allergenic.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/159,953, filed Mar. 13, 2009, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to jewelry, and more particularly to accessories that assist in the wearing of necklaces, bracelets, anklets, and other items of jewelry that loosely encircle a wearer's neck, waist, wrist, ankle, or other body portion.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Women and men, boys, and girls the world over wear jewelry such as necklaces and chains of differing types, including bracelets and anklets, which loosely encircle the neck, wrist, ankle, waste, or some other portion of the body. For the sake of clarity, frequent reference is made herein to the example of a “necklace,” but it should be understood that this term extends to and includes all types of jewelry and similar items that loosely encircle a wearer's neck, wrist, ankle, waist, or other body portion.
The encircling cord or chain of a necklace, bracelet, anklet, or similar item is frequently extended around a wearer's neck, ankle, or other body part as two separate strands that are joined by a knot, clasp, or other joining mechanism (herein generically referred to as a “clasp”) once the neck or other body part has been encircled. Typically, it is not considered desirable for the clasp to be visible when the jewelry is worn, and so the clasp is typically positioned at the back of the neck or ankle, the bottom or inside of the wrist, or at some other location that is minimally visible and separated from the more attractive portions of the jewelry.
However, as a result of normal body movement, a jewelry clasp can tend to migrate to more visible areas, such as to the front of the neck or top of the wrist, thus exposing the clasp to view or otherwise presenting the necklace or other jewelry in a manner not intended. If the necklace has an integral function other than being merely decorative, such as displaying an identity tag for example, the function may also be impaired by rotational displacement of the clasp, which may obscure the visibility or impede the use of the identity tag or other item.
Displacement and exposure of a clasp is highly undesirable to many wearers, and can cause them to continuously return the clasp to the back of the neck or other region of the body where it is again out of sight. This may happen many times over the course of a day. In the case of an anklet, the clasp may tend to move to the front of the leg, requiring the wearer to move it to the back of the leg. In the case of a bracelet, if the clasp moves to the top of the arm, the wearer must physically move it to the bottom of the arm where it will be less visible. In some cases the wearer's clothing may aggravate the situation by restricting or making more difficult the necessary arm movements for restoring the clasp to its correct location.
In many cases jewelry, such as a necklace or anklet, may not be readily visible to the wearer, so that migration of the clasp may not be immediately apparent. For example, the clasp of a necklace may migrate to the front of the wearer's neck or chest, where it is readily visible to individuals near the wearer, but may not be readily visible to the wearer. This can require the wearer to frequently feel for the clasp and/or to look in a mirror so as to determine if the clasp requires repositioning to the back of the wearer's neck.
What is needed therefore is a simple, inexpensive, effective apparatus that will maintain a jewelry clasp at a desired location relative to a wearer's body.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A device is claimed that can be attached to a low-visibility region of a wearer's body or clothing so as to retain in position a clasp, knot, or other selected part of a cord, strap, chain, or other encircling element of a necklace, bracelet, anklet, or similar item. The claimed device includes a base that can be adhered or otherwise affixed to a wearer's skin or clothing, and an anchoring loop fixed the base to which the clasp, knot, or other selected portion can be attached while the item is being worn, thereby inhibiting undesired migration of the clasp, knot, or other selected part (herein referred to generically as the “clasp”) about the neck or other body part of the wearer.
It should be understood that while frequent reference is made herein to the example of a necklace having a chain fastened about a wearer's neck by a clasp, all such references are generic and/or exemplary in nature, and that the invention is intended to apply equally to other loosely encircling items worn about other portions of the body which experience a similar migration problem.
One general aspect of the present invention is an anchoring device for inhibiting an encircling item from rotating about a portion of a user's body. The anchoring device includes a base, a lower side of which is configured for attachment to a desired location on the user, and an anchor loop fixed to an upper side of the base, the anchor loop being configured for attachment thereto of an attaching element of the encircling item in a manner that prevents rotation of the encircling item about the portion of the user's body.
In some embodiments, the portion of the user's body is at least one of a group of body portions consisting of a neck, waist, wrist and ankle. In various embodiments, the attaching element of the encircling item is a joining mechanism configured for joining together ends of the encircling item after the ends have been extended around the portion of the user's body.
In certain embodiments the lower side of the base includes a hook fastening mechanism configured for attachment to clothing worn by the user. And in other embodiments the base is configured for attachment to skin of the user. In various embodiments the lower side of the base includes adhesive configured for attachment to the desired location on the user.
Certain embodiments include a protective backing that covers the adhesive and is removable therefrom in preparation for application of the base to the desired location on the user. And in various embodiments the base is configured to spontaneously release from the desired location on the user without substantial injury to the user upon application of excessive force to the anchoring device.
In some embodiments, the anchor loop is configured so as to visually blend in appearance with the attaching element of the encircling item. And in certain embodiments the base is configured so as to visually blend in appearance with one of skin and clothing of the user. In other embodiments, at least one of the base and the anchor loop is one of transparent and translucent.
In various embodiments, the base is configured so as to resist degradation when exposed to moisture. In certain embodiments the anchor loop is deformable. And in some embodiments the anchor loop can be transitioned between a deployed orientation in which the anchor loop protrudes from the base and a folded orientation in which the anchor loop is substantially flush against the base.
In various embodiments a plurality of anchor loops is fixed to the base. And certain embodiments further include a backing sheet to which a plurality of anchoring devices is attached, the anchoring devices being separately removable from the backing sheet for attachment to the desired location on the user. In some of these embodiments the backing sheet includes a perforation which can be separated so as to divide the backing sheet into separated sections, each of the separated sections having at least one anchoring device attached thereto.
In some embodiments the anchor loop includes a latching mechanism, the latching mechanism being openable so as to allow penetration of the anchor loop by the attaching element of the encircling item, the latching mechanism being closable so as to fix the attaching element of the encircling item to the anchor loop. And in various embodiments the anchoring device is designed to avoid irritation of the user's skin when the base is attached to the desired location on the user.
Another general aspect of the present invention is an anchoring device for inhibiting rotation of a necklace about a user's neck. The anchoring device includes a base, a lower surface of which is configured for adhesive attachment to the nap of the user's neck, and an anchor loop fixed to an upper surface of the base, the anchor loop being configured for attachment thereto of a clasp of the necklace in a manner that prevents rotation of the necklace about the user's neck.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment that includes an adhesive base attached to a metal anchor loop;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment that includes hook attachment on an underside of the base;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment that includes an adhesive base attached to a transparent anchor loop;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1, illustrating removal of a peel-able paper backing from the underside of the base;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a perforated backing sheet to which a plurality of disposable bases is adhered;

FIG. 6A is a perspective view of an embodiment having a foldable anchor loop, showing the anchor loop unfolded;

FIG. 6B is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 6A, showing the anchor loop folded;

FIG. 7 is a top view of an embodiment wherein the anchor loop is formed from a length of loop material, the ends of which are adhered to the base;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an embodiment wherein the anchor loop is made of hollow metal tubing and includes a latching mechanism;

FIG. 9A is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 3 attached to the nape of a user's neck and having the clasp of a necklace attached thereto due to incorporation of the anchor loop within the clasp;

FIG. 9B is a perspective view of a two-loop embodiment attached to the nape of a user's neck and having the clasp of a necklace attached thereto due to entrapment of the clasp between the two anchor loops;

FIG. 10A is a dissembled perspective view of an embodiment wherein the anchor loop is attached to the base by entrapment of a disk fixed to the anchor loop between two layers of the base; and

FIG. 10B is an assembled view of the embodiment of FIG. 10A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to FIG. 1, the invention in its simplest form is a clasp-anchoring device 100 that includes two principle components, a base 102 and an anchor loop 104. The base 102 is configured for attachment to the skin or clothing of a user. In various embodiments, the base 102 is an adhesive base 102. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the base 102 is a small, circular, adhesive base, somewhat similar to a Band-Aid® brand adhesive bandage, commonly referred to as a “band-aid”, (Applicant disclaims any right to the registered trademark Band-Aid) that can be adhered to the skin or clothing of a user.
In some embodiments, the base 102 is made of a “band-aid” like cloth, plastic, or a surgical type of tape material which is strong, flexible, and impervious to water. It may be transparent or translucent, and may be tinted with a skin-tone hue or another color. Other embodiments may be of a solid color intended to match skin tone, or to match the color and/or texture of underwear or outer apparel.
In various embodiments, the size of the base 102 and the adhesive or other attachment mechanism applied thereto are of sufficient contact area and holding power to resist any lateral forces that may be applied to the anchor loop 104 by a clasp attempting to migrate away from the anchor loop 104. And in some embodiments the device 100 is easily removable and can be simply peeled off and replaced whenever desired or whenever the adhesive fatigues, being similar in properties to a band-aid.
The strength of the adhesive bond and of the loop 104 and its connection to the base 102 is designed in various embodiments such that an unusually large force applied to or through the necklace or other encircling item will either break or dislodge the loop or peel the device off the user's skin without serious injury to the user.
The base 102 can be of nearly any shape, such as round, square, butterfly-shaped, and such like. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the base 102 is round, and the material of the base 102 is designed to be compatible with application of an adhesive layer to its lower surface. In similar embodiments, the material itself is adhesive in nature, and in some embodiments the material of the base 102 is moisture-proof or waterproof, so as to enable wearing of the device 100 for an extended period, such as several days or a week or more. In still other embodiments, the material of the base 102 and/or the adhesive is hypo-allergenic, so as not to cause irritation to a user's skin.
With reference to FIG. 2, in yet other embodiments, in lieu of an adhesive, the base 102 includes a layer of hook material 200 attached to the underside of the base 102 and configured for attachment to clothing.
The second component of the claimed device 100 is an anchor loop 104 which is attached to the upper surface of the base 102. Both the base 102 and the anchor loop 104 take on different sizes in different embodiments. For example, in various embodiments the base 102 ranges from approximately ½ or smaller in diameter, up to 1″ or more in diameter, and varies in thickness from paper-thin to as much as ¼.
Anchor loops 104 in various embodiments of the invention are of various designs and materials including, but not limited to, a continuous metal loop 104 such as of gold or sterling, commonly used for jewelry manufacture, which is visible, which protrudes and which can be felt when touched, but which can match a chosen piece of jewelry and therefore be somewhat invisible once the jewelry is attached. The anchor loop 104 in some embodiments possesses the increased strength of the metal.
The anchor loop 104 in other embodiments comprises a thin, flexible, strong loop 104 extending outward from about the center of the surface of a transparent base 102 of nylon or flexible plastic, the underside of which is coated with the same adhesive as is used on common adhesive bandages or “band-aids.” These embodiments are secure enough to be used over the course of several days to a week, yet easily removable when necessary.
In certain embodiments the base 102 is transparent, so as to be virtually invisible to the eye once applied, thereby drawing little or no attention to itself as a separate entity. And with reference to FIG. 3, in some embodiments the anchor loop 104 is transparent or nearly transparent. In some of these embodiments the anchor loop 104 is clear and nearly invisible, flexible and unobtrusive, and in certain of these embodiments it is made of a material with characteristics similar to nylon thread or fishing line, being strong and resilient.
With reference to FIG. 4, in certain embodiments the adhesive underside of the base 102 is protected until use by a removable paper backing 400, which can be removed so as to allow the base 102 to be attached to the desired location such as the back of the neck, the bottom of the wrist, or the inside or back of the ankle, as appropriate to the jewelry in use.
With reference to FIG. 5, multiple specimens 100 can be included on a single sheet of backing material 500, which in some embodiments includes perforations 502 for easy separation, and can be sold, for example, in boxes of 25-100 sheets, with 5-10 peel-off devices 100 per sheet.
In various embodiments the anchor loop 104 is easily accessible for clasping of the jewelry thereto. And in certain embodiments the anchor loop 104 is flexible enough and the base 102 is thin enough so that once the jewelry is removed, the device 100 does not protrude noticeably from the area where it is attached. And in certain embodiments the anchor loop 104 can be transitioned between a deployed orientation, as shown in FIG. 6A, and a folded orientation, as shown in FIG. 6B.
The anchor loop 104 in various embodiments is of a size suitable to accommodate an intended range of clasps. In various embodiments, the anchor loop 104 is attached to a central region of the base 102 so as to minimize any tendency of clasp movement to peel the base 102 away from the skin. With reference to FIG. 7, the anchor loop 104 in some embodiments is formed by attachment of two ends 700 of a length of loop material to the base, or by attaching a section of a closed loop to the base. In other embodiments, the anchor loop 104 is secured by a smaller loop or strap to the base. In still other embodiments the anchor loop 104 and base 102 are molded as a unitary device 100. In various embodiments, the loop is deformable, easing the attachment of the clasp to it, and providing an elastic tension to resist lateral movement of the clasp.
The anchor loop 104 can be of different sizes to accommodate different sized pieces of jewelry or even multiple pieces of jewelry simultaneously. With reference to FIG. 8, the anchor loop 104 can be made from hollow metal and can include a latching mechanism 800 which can be used for attachment to a loop of a chain or to some other element that is not easily attached to a solid loop. The latching mechanism 800 can be of any conventional clasp or fastener design, including but not limited to open hook, snap, helix, and double helix, into which the cord is rolled, spring loaded, twisted, or compression fit. The latching mechanism 800 can employ adhesive contact, hook-and-loop material, or any combination of or variation of these mechanisms.
FIG. 9 a illustrates the embodiment 100 of FIG. 3 attached to the back of a user's neck 900 and having the clasp 902 of a necklace 904 affixed thereto.
In some embodiments a plurality of anchor loops is attached to the base 102, such as the two anchor loops 104 a, 104 b illustrated in FIG. 9 b, whereby a string or chain 904 is threaded through the anchor loops 104 a, 104 b and the clasp 902 is secured between them.
With reference to FIG. 10A and FIG. 10B, in some embodiments the anchor loop 104 may be attached to the base 102 by means of a disk 1000 attached to the anchor loop 104 and held between two layers 102 a, 102 b of the selected base material. The disk 1000 is placed flat upon a first piece 102 b of base material with the flexible anchor loop 104 protruding upward. A second piece 102 a of the base material with a hole in its center through which the flexible loop 104 portion of the loop/disk assembly 1000 can protrude, is applied as a top layer, thus capturing the disk portion 1000 of the disk/loop assembly between the layers 102 a, 102 b of material and securing it to the base 102. The base 102 is completed when the non-stick paper backing 300 is applied to the underside of the base 102.
Other and numerous variations of design and construction of the device 100 in various embodiments that provide the fundamental structure of a loop 104 accessible for securing a clasp or necklace, attached to a base 102 that can be adhered to the skin, are included within the scope of the invention.
The foregoing description of the embodiments of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of this disclosure. It is intended that the scope of the invention be limited not by this detailed description, but rather by the claims appended hereto.

Claims

1. An anchoring device for inhibiting an encircling item from rotating about a portion of a user's body, the anchoring device comprising:

a base, a lower side of which is configured for attachment to a desired location on the user; and

an anchor loop fixed to an upper side of the base, the anchor loop being configured for attachment thereto of an attaching element of the encircling item in a manner that prevents rotation of the encircling item about the portion of the user's body.

2. The anchoring device of claim 1, wherein the portion of the user's body is at least one of a group of body portions consisting of a neck, waist, wrist and ankle.

3. The anchoring device of claim 1, wherein the attaching element of the encircling item is a joining mechanism configured for joining together ends of the encircling item after the ends have been extended around the portion of the user's body.

4. The anchoring device of claim 1, wherein the lower side of the base includes a hook fastening mechanism configured for attachment to clothing worn by the user.

5. The anchoring device of claim 1, wherein the base is configured for attachment to skin of the user.

6. The anchoring device of claim 1, wherein the lower side of the base includes adhesive configured for attachment to the desired location on the user.

7. The anchoring device of claim 6, further comprising a protective backing that covers the adhesive and is removable therefrom in preparation for application of the base to the desired location on the user.

8. The anchoring device of claim 1, wherein the base is configured to spontaneously release from the desired location on the user without substantial injury to the user upon application of excessive force to the anchoring device.

9. The anchoring device of claim 1, wherein the anchor loop is configured so as to visually blend in appearance with the attaching element of the encircling item.

10. The anchoring device of claim 1, wherein the base is configured so as to visually blend in appearance with one of skin and clothing of the user.

11. The anchoring device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the base and the anchor loop is one of transparent and translucent.

12. The anchoring device of claim 1, wherein the base is configured so as to resist degradation when exposed to moisture.

13. The anchoring device of claim 1, wherein the anchor loop is deformable.

14. The anchoring device of claim 1, wherein the anchor loop can be transitioned between a deployed orientation in which the anchor loop protrudes from the base and a folded orientation in which the anchor loop is substantially flush against the base.

15. The anchoring device of claim 1, wherein a plurality of anchor loops is fixed to the base.

16. The anchoring device of claim 1, further comprising a backing sheet to which a plurality of anchoring devices is attached, the anchoring devices being separately removable from the backing sheet for attachment to the desired location on the user.

17. The anchoring device of claim 16, wherein the backing sheet includes a perforation which can be separated so as to divide the backing sheet into separated sections, each of the separated sections having at least one anchoring device attached thereto.

18. The anchoring device of claim 1, wherein the anchor loop includes a latching mechanism, the latching mechanism being openable so as to allow penetration of the anchor loop by the attaching element of the encircling item, the latching mechanism being closable so as to fix the attaching element of the encircling item to the anchor loop.

19. The anchoring device of claim 1, wherein the anchoring device is designed to avoid irritation of the user's skin when the base is attached to the desired location on the user.

20. An anchoring device for inhibiting rotation of a necklace about a user's neck, the anchoring device comprising:

a base, a lower surface of which is configured for adhesive attachment to the nap of the user's neck; and

an anchor loop fixed to an upper surface of the base, the anchor loop being configured for attachment thereto of a clasp of the necklace in a manner that prevents rotation of the necklace about the user's neck.