US3905069A

US3905069A - Securing devices for use in jewellery

Info

Publication number: US3905069A
Application number: US494524A
Authority: US
Inventors: Zbigniew Janusz Szomanski
Original assignee: ZEM OF WALES Ltd
Current assignee: ZEM OF WALES Ltd
Priority date: 1974-08-05
Filing date: 1974-08-05
Publication date: 1975-09-16
Anticipated expiration: 1992-09-16

Abstract

A securing device for use in jewellery has a square sectioned bar bent to the shape of a C. The central part of the bar passes between two plates which are joined, which are of resilient material, and which are urged towards each other. There are a plurality of positions of the bar relative to the plates in which there is a relatively large resistance to rotation of the bar relative to the plates and in one of these positions, there are defined by the bar and the plates two passages each having a continuous wall.

Description

United States Patent 1191 Szomanski Sept. 16, 1975 SECURING DEVICES FOR USE IN JEWELLERY [75] Inventor: Zbigniew Janusz Szomanski,

London, England [73] Assignee: Zem of Wales Limited, London,

England 22 Filed: Aug. 5, 1974 21 Appl.No.:494,524

[52] US. Cl 24/73 HR; 24/73 HH; 24/241 SP [51] Int. Cl. A44B 21/00; A44B 13/00 [58] Field of Search 24/252 J, 252 B, 252 HC,

24/73 HR, 73 TA, 73 HH, 73 HL, 232, 241 S, 241 SP; 70/459; 59/89, 85

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 549,096 11/1895 Baker .1: 24/232 1,398,126 11/1921 C0chrane.... 24/252 B 2,232,668 2/1941 Schupbach.. 70/459 2,343,062 2/1944 Kennison 24/252 B 2,568,845 9/1951 Carroll 24/232 3,267,694 8/1966 Ficocelli 24/252 J 3,484,909 12/1969 Sau'er 24/252 J FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 277,827 12/1951 Switzerland 24/252 I-IC Primary Examiner Bernard A. Gelak Attorney, Agent, or FirmMcCaleb, Lucas & Brugman [5 7] ABSTRACT 7 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures SECURING DEVICES FOR USE IN JEWELLERY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to securing devices for use in jewellery.

2. Description of the Prior Art It is commonto provide a securing device for'securing the two ends of, for example. a necklace together. A bolt ring is often used for this purpose and comprises a hollow ring to which one end of the necklace is permanently fixed. A bolt ring is also commonly used to secure the ends of a bracelet. The hollow ring is not complete and the gap is bridged by a curved bolt which is urged out of one end of the ring towards the other end of the ring by. a curved helical spring located within the hollow ring. A lug is secured to the bolt and to open the ring the lug is moved in the direction to cause the bolt to move into thesaid one end of the ring to reveal the gap in the ring. In use, the wearer by manipulation of the lug moves the bolt into the said one end of the ring and passes the said other end of the ring through a link at the end of the chain not secured to the ring. The wearer then releases the lug and the bolt moves under the action of the spring to engage said other end of the ring and so complete the ring. Bolt rings do however have the disadvantage that moisture possibly from the wearer enters the bolt ring and attacks the spring which eventually fails. If the bolt rings fails while the necklace or bracelet is being worn it may fall off the wearer and be lost. Various other securing devices are known but all securing devices have certain disadvantages including those mentioned above.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of this invention to provide a securing device for use in jewellery.

According to this invention there is provided a securing device for use in jewellery comprising a bar of noncircular section held between two plates at least one of which is of resilient material and is urged towards the other so that there are a plurality of positions of the bar in relation to the plates in each of which there is a relatively large resistance to rotation of the bar in relation to the plates because of the action of the plate or plates of resilient material, the bar and the plates being shaped to define a passage with a continuous wall in one of the said plurality of positions of the bar in relation to the plates.

Conveniently the bar is of rectangular section and it is preferred that the bar is of square section.

Preferably the bar is C-shaped and passes between the two plates in a zone intermediate its ends so that in the said position of the bar in relation to the plate there are defined two passages each having a continuous wall.

Preferably the two plates are joined to each other in a location spaced from the location at which the bar passes between the two plates.

Preferably the two plates are parallel to each other in each of the said locations.

Preferably the bar is formed with a narrow section portion engaged by the plates.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Further objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A securing device in accordance with this invention will now be described, by way of example'only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring to the drawings a square section rod 1 is bent to a C-shape and with a portion of slightly narrower section (not visible) in the middle of the 'upright stroke 2 of the C. A central bar 3 comprising a single plate of resilient material bent back on itself toeffectively provide two

plates

4 and 5 of resilient material is mounted on the narrower section portion which is engaged by the

plates

4 and 5 at their free ends. The

plates

4 and 5 may be welded to each other for a short distance between their point of junction and their free ends. The

plates

4 and 5 are just narrower than the length of the narrow section portion so that they are trapped by the shoulders formed between that portion and the rest of the bar 1, The plate 4 is formed with an extension 6 at right angles which extension extends towards the plate 5 so as to entirely surround the narrower section portion of the bar 1. Because of the resilience of the

plates

4 and 5 there are four relative positions of the bar 1 and the bar 3 in each of which it is relatively difficult to rotate the bar 3 in relation to the bar 1. In one of these positions which is that shown in FIG. 2 the end of the bar 3 closes the gap between the ends of the bar 1 to form two passages 7 and 8 whose walls are continuous. When the bar 3 is rotated from the position shown in FIG. 2 to that shown in FIG. 1 the

plates

4 and 5 are initially forced slightly apart and be cause of the resilience of the

plates

4 and 5 the bars 1 and 3 will remain in the relative position shown in FIG. 2 there is a higher resistance to relative rotation of the bar 1. As the bar 3 approaches the adjacent relative position in which it is relatively difficult to rotate the bar 3 in relation to the bar 1, rotation of the bar towards that position which is shown in FIG. 1 becomes relatively easy. As indicated at 9 the bar 3 is cut away on opposite sides between the part which surrounds the narrow section portion of the bar 1 and the part which extends between the ends of the bar 1 in the closed position of the securing device; this increases the size of the passages 7 and 8 shown in FIG. 2.

The material of the bars 1 and 3 may be a hard gold which is relatively resilient, German silver or brass or any other material which has resilience and of course it is not essential that the bars 1 and 3 are of the same material.

In use when the device is in the position shown in FIG. 1 one end of the bar 1 is inserted into a link at one end of a necklace or bracelet and the other end of the bar 1 is inserted into a link at the other end of the necklace or bracelet and then the bar 3 is rotated from the position shown in FIG 1 to the position shown in FIG. 2 in which the ends of the necklace are trapped.

It will be appreciated that there is no helical spring which can be destroyed by corrosion.

The device shown in the drawings can also be used in a cufflink in which case a circular ring is secured to the back of each of two decorative plates intended to be exposed. When the bar 3 is in its open position one end of the bar 1 is inserted through one of the rings whereas the other end is inserted through the other ring and the bar 3 is rotated to its closed position. In this way one cufflink is provided and of course a pair of such cufflinks will be normally provided.

While one form of the invention has been shown and described, it will be understood that various modifications may be made within the spirit and scope of the in vention which should be limited only by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A securing device for use in jewellery comprising:

a body member including a C-shaped bar having a middle stroke portion and a pair of arcuate terminal portions with ends spaced apart to define an opening opposite said middle stroke portion;

a closure member including an elongated securement bar extending transversely from and pivotally connected to said middle stroke portion and having a free end portion swingable to and from a closed position in said opening coplanar with said C-shaped bar to define in at least one of said terminal portions a jewellery-engaging passage to which access is controlled by said securement bar; and

said securement bar including two plates embracing said middle stroke portion at least one of which is of resilient material and urged against the surface of a non-circular section on the middle stroke portion of said C-shaped bar when the securement bar is in closed position to thereby make said securement bar difficult to move from said closed position.

2. A securing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least the middle stroke portion of the C-shaped bar is of rectangular section.

3. A securing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least the middle stroke portion of the C-shaped bar is of square section.

4. A securing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the two plates are joined to each other at said free end portion.

5. A securing device as claimed in claim 4 wherein the two plates are parallel to each other in each of the said locations.

6. A securing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the securement bar is formed with a narrow section portion providing an enlargement for said jewelleryengagmg passage.

7. A securing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein both plates are of resilient material.

Claims

1. A securing device for use in jewellery comprising: a body member including a C-shaped bar having a middle stroke portion and a pair of arcuate terminal portions with ends spaced apart to define an opening opposite said middle stroke portion; a closure member including an elongated securement bar extending transversely from and pivotally connected to said middle stroke portion and having a free end portion swingable to and from a closed position in said opening coplanar with said C-shaped bar to define in at least one of said terminal portions a jewellery-engaging passage to which access is controlled by said securement bar; and said securement bar including two plates embracing said middle stroke portion at least one of which is of resilient material and urged against the surface of a non-circular section on the middle stroke portion of said C-shaped bar when the securement bar is in closed position to thereby make said securement bar difficult to move from said closed position.

6. A securing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the securement bar is formed with a narrow section portion providing an enlargement for said jewellery-engaging passage.