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
  • A44C5/2071—Fasteners for straps, chains or the like for open straps, chains or the like with the two ends of the strap or chain overlapping each other and fastened by an action perpendicularly to the main plane of these two ends
• • 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
  • A44C5/2042—Fasteners provided with a turnable clamping lever
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A44—HABERDASHERY; JEWELLERY
  • A44D—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO BUTTONS, PINS, BUCKLES OR SLIDE FASTENERS, AND TO JEWELLERY, BRACELETS OR OTHER PERSONAL ADORNMENTS
  • A44D2203/00—Fastening by use of magnets

Definitions

• the present invention relates to jewelry and, more particularly, to an improved clasp for joining the two free ends of a jewelry chain together in an easy to facilitate junction.
• Magnetic clasps without safety catches, are widely used for costume jewelry. However, manufacturers and retailers of fine jewelry (gold jewelry, sterling silver jewelry or jewelry containing gemstones) seldom, if ever, offer necklaces with magnetic clasps. [0005] Makers and wearers of fine jewelry want the security of a safety catch and none of the available magnetic clasps with safety catches are considered practical. Such clasps are either too difficult to close, not secure when closed or are too difficult to open. In addition some are simply not attractive.
• the clasp for jewelry as well as clasps for other items, have a long felt need to meet all three of the key consumer requirements, that is, the clasp must be easy attach and detach, it must be secure when closed (can't be opened by pulling it apart) and it must be easy to open.
• the clasp is commercially benefited by being attractive so that the clasp enhances, rather than detracts, from the overall attractive appearance of the jewelry itself.
• a clasp it would, therefore, be advantageous for a clasp to have all of the foregoing attributes and, additionally provide some positive indication to the wearer that the clasp has been effectively and fully closed and one means of providing such positive indication would be to have positive clicking action that the wearer could hear and/or feel, to indicate to the wearer that the clasp has been fully closed and the danger of a partially closed clasp inadvertently coming apart is basically eliminated.
• the present invention relates to an improved clasp for jewelry, as well as other items, that is easy to close and where that closure is secure to protect the item of jewelry and wherein the clasp is also easy to open so that the clasp satisfies the long felt need for such a clasp as previously described.
• the present clasp there are two bodies that are affixed to the free ends of a necklace or bracelet and which are joined together to make up the clasp of the present invention.
• Each of the bodies has a magnetic means forming a magnetically attractive surface that has both a north pole and a south pole.
• the magnetically attractive surfaces are located abutting each other with the north pole of one magnetically attractive surface aligned with the south pole of the other magnetically attractive surface such that the bodies are forcefully held together by the mutual magnetic attraction of the opposite polarity magnetic poles of the respective bodies aligned against each other.
• the respective poles of the magnetic means on each body is aligned along a longitudinal centerline through the body and which basically follows the line between the chain that is affixed to the clasp and which makes up the article of jewelry.
• a safety catch that is mounted to one of the bodies and which can be pivotally affixed thereto and which can be moved between an unlatched position and a latched position where the free end of the safety catch interfits with the other body, thereby providing a safety catch to prevent the bodies from coming apart.
• the safety catch has a protrusion that enters into a bore formed in the other body to latch the two bodies firmly together and, in an alternative embodiment, there can be a protrusion having an inwardly directed lip at the free end thereof that overlaps the other body to create the secure latching of the bodies.
• the lip initially engages the first body and causes it to move along the longitudinal centerline formed between the poles of the magnetic means so that the magnetic means are slightly displaced and the north and south poles misaligned.
• the lip passes over the end of the first body freeing the first body to rapidly return to its position where the magnetic means are again aligned. That rapid movement of the magnetic means of the first body creates a click that can be felt and/or heard by the wearer and provides a positive indication to the wearer that the clasp has been fully closed and the safety latch engaged so that the wearer can be assured the piece of jewelry is safely affixed to the wearer.
• the necklace or bracelet can readily be joined together by the wearer with one hand and, since the bipolar magnetic means aligns the magnetic poles along a straight line as if they were an extension of the bracelet or necklace, the only way the bodies can come together is in the correct alignment with the north pole of one magnetic means aligned with the south pole of the other magnetic means.
• the clasp will, therefore, always be con-ectly and exactly aligned and which not only makes the clasp more attractive but the magnetic attraction also makes it easier to fasten the safety catch since the wearer only needs to squeeze the clasp between the fingers until a click is felt and/or heard by the wearer.
• the present clasp is easy to open and can be opened with one hand without looking.
• the clasp is attractive to wear and which is a desirable feature from a cosmetic standpoint. Since the clasp has the respective magnetic means of the two bodies automatically aligned in the same direction i.e. the longitudinal centerline, as the neck chain or bracelet, the clasp can be made to be very thin to appear attractive with a very thin neck chain or bracelet.
• FIG. 1 is a top view of the two bodies that make up the jewelry clasp of the present invention
• HG.2 is a side view of the bodies of Fig. 1 ;
• FIG. 3 is a top view of the completed clasp of the Fig. 1 embodiment
• FIG.4 is a side view of the completed clasp of Fig. 3 ;
• FIG. 5 is a top view of an alternative embodiment of a clasp to join two bodies of the present invention.
• FIG. 6 is a side view of the bodies of the Fig. 5 embodiment;
• FIG. 7 is a top view of the completed clasp of the Fig. 5 embodiment
• FIG. 8 is a side view of the completed clasp of Fig. 7;
• FIG. 9 is a top view of a still further embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 10 is a side, exploded view of the bodies of the alternative embodiment of Fig. 9;
• FIG. 11 is a side view of eh embodiment of Fig 9 with the bodies in the process of closing together;
• FIG. 12 is a side view of the Fig. 9 embodiment with the two bodies in the closed, latched position;
• FIG. 13 is a top view of a magnetic means illustrating the preferred means of affixing the magnetic means to a body
• FIG. 14 is a side view of the magnetic means of Fig. 13;
• FIG. 15 is a side view of a body that is adapted to have the magnetic means of Figs. 13 and 14 affixed thereto
• FIG. 16 is a top view of a still further embodiment of the present invention having a side mounted safety catch
• FIG 17 is a side view of the embodiment of HG 16.
• FIG 18 is a side view of the completed clasp of the Fig. 16 embodiment. Detailed Description of the Invention
• FIGs. 1 and 2 there is shown a top view of the two bodies
• the bodies 12, 14 that make up the jewelry clasp of the present invention.
• the bodies 12, 14 can be made of many materials, preferable of the metal material, such as silver or gold, that is the same as the material used in the piece of jewelry on which the clasp is being used.
• Both bodies 12, 14 have a ring 16, 18 respectively, that is used to affix the clasp to a jewelry chain, in conventional manner, that makes up the bracelet, necklace or other item.
• each of the bodies 12, 14 there is a magnetic means embedded or affixed to each of the bodies 12, 14 and the magnetic means comprises magnets 20, 22, 24 and 26 that are interfitted into suitable shaped recesses formed in the bodies 12, 14, to be later explained.
• the magnets are arranged, spaced apart along a longitudinal line extending between the magnets and the polarity of each of the magnets 20, 22, 24, and 26 is predetermined as will also be explained.
• safety catch 28 that is pivotally affixed to the body 14 and that safety catch 28 has a protuberance 30 extending outwardly from the free end of the safety catch 28, preferable at about a right angle with respect to the safety catch 28.
• FIG. 2 there is shown a side view of the bodies 12, 14 and illustrating the orientation and location of the magnets 20, 22, 24 and 26.
• the magnets 20 and 22 of body 12 are aligned to form a magnetically attractive surface 32 and which surface is a generally flat, planar surface.
• the magnet 20 may have its north pole in alignment or flush with the magnetically attractive surface 32 while magnet 22 can have its south pole aligned or flush with that magnetically attractive surface 32.
• the orientation of the magnets within each of the bodies are aligned to form a magnetically attractive surface 32 and which surface is a generally flat, planar surface.
• the magnet 20 may have its north pole in alignment or flush with the magnetically attractive surface 32 while magnet 22 can have its south pole aligned or flush with that magnetically attractive surface 32.
• the orientation of the magnets within each of the bodies are aligned to form a magnetically attractive surface 32 and which surface is a generally flat, planar surface.
• the magnet 20 may have its north pole in alignment or flush with the magnetically attractive surface 32 while magnet
• an indentation 34 located in the surface remote from the magnetically attractive surface 32.
• the magnets 20, 22 are embedded in the body 12 by fitting into a pair of recesses 36, 38 formed in the body 12.
• the magnets 20, 22 may be adhesively secured within the recesses 36, 38 or may be secured there by an affixation method to be later described.
• the magnets 24, 26 are secured within recesses 40, 42 to form the flat, planar magnetically attractive surface 44 in the body 14.
• the magnet 24 has its south pole aligned or flush with the magnetically attractive surface 44 and the magnet 26 has its north pole aligned or flush with that magnetically attractive surface.
• the safety catch 28 can be seen to be pivotally affixed to the body 14 by means of the pivot 46 and thus the protuberance 30 is located at the free end of that safety catch 28 and can be moved from its unlatched position illustrated in Fig. 2 to a latched position engaging the body 12 as will be seen.
• FIGs. 3 and 4 there is shown a top view and a side view, respectively, of the completed jewelry clasp of the present invention and showing the safety catch 28 in its latched position where the protuberance 30 has entered into and become affixed in the indentation 34 to retain the bodies 12, 14 firmly together.
• the magnets 20, 22, 24 and 26 have become aligned with each other and the magnetically attractive surfaces 32 and 44 are in abutting relationship and are held together by the magnetic attraction of the magnets 20, 22, 24 and 26 since the south pole of magnet 24 is directly abutting and aligned with the north pole of magnet 20 and, likewise, the north pole of magnet 26 is aligned and contacting the south pole of magnet 22, thus, in each instance, the magnetically attractive surfaces 32, 44 are attracted to each other by the mating of the opposite poles of the individual magnets.
• the magnets 20, 22, 24, and 26, as well as the other magnets described herein with respect to other embodiments of the invention, can be bi-polar rare-earth neodymium magnets, sintered, N45 strength, with strongest magnetic power through the thickness and such magnets have the strongest magnetic power for their size of any known current magnet, however, magnets with lesser power can perform effectively in the present clasp design.
• the magnets are preferably nickel plated to improve the appearance and prevent surface abrasion or corrosion.
• the clasp is easy to use in connecting the two bodies 12, 14 since the respective magnets of each body 12, 14 are spaced apart along the longitudinal axis or centerline of the clasp and in line with the chain of the particular jewelry and therefore the mutual magnetic attraction of the magnets brings about a perfect alignment of the bodies 12, 14 and the safety catch 28 can then be moved to its latched position and is assured of also being correctly aligned for the protuberance 30 to enter into and fit within the indentation 34.
• the release of the clasp freeing the bodies 12 and 14 is also readily accomplished and can be carried out with the use of only one hand.
• the safety catch 28 After the safety catch 28 is returned to its unlatched position from its latched position, the bodies 12, 14 are simply pulled apart from each other in opposite directions, such that the magnetic attraction is readily dissipated, and the bodies 12, 14 easily come apart.
• Figs. 5 - 8 there is shown corresponding views as explained with respect to Figs. 1-4 but in this embodiment, there are single multiple polar bar magnets 48 and 50 used instead of the individual magnets of the prior embodiment.
• the use of the magnetic means of the magnetically attractive surfaces 32, 44, however, is basically the same as described with respect to the prior embodiment of Figs. 1-4 since the bar magnets 48, 50 each have a north pole and a south pole and are oriented such that the orientation of the poles of the bar magnets 48, 50 will, in Fig. 8, align, respectively, with the south pole and north pole of the bar magnet 50.
• the embodiment of Figs 5-8 is the same as the embodiment of Figs. 1-4, that is, the orientation of the poles of the bar magnets are also along the longitudinal centerline of the bodies and the magnetically attractive surfaces are flat, planar surfaces with the magnets themselves located in recesses therein.
• the magnets may themselves be flat, planar and may be surface mounted rather that recessed into the bodies providing the ultimate magnetically attractive surfaces remain as flat, planar surfaces. .
• FIG. 9 there is shown a top view of a still further embodiment of the present invention.
• first body 56 and a second body 58 each having a ring 60, 62 for attachment to the particular chain of the jewelry.
• single multiple polar bar magnets 64, 66 with the bar magnet 64 having a north pole 68 and a south pole 70 and with the bar magnet 66 also having a south pole 72 and a north pole 74 both of which are oriented so that the poles of each bar magnet 64, 66 is on the longitudinal centerline of the first and second bodies 56, 58.
• the north pole 68 and south pole 70 of the first body 56 will be aligned, respectively, with the south pole 72 and the north pole 74 of the second body 58 such that there will be a magnetic attraction between the respective bar magnets 64, 66 to pull and retain the first and second bodies 56, 58 together.
• there is a safety catch 76 having a protuberance 78 extending outwardly from the free end thereof at about a right angle.
• the protuberance 78 also has an arcuate recess 80 to avoid contacting the ring 60 when the safety catch 76 is moved from its unlatched position of Fig. 1 to its latched position as will later become clear.
• Fig. 10 there is shown a side view of the clasp of the present invention.
• the bar magnets 64 and 66 form the flat, planar, mating magnetically attractive surfaces 82, 84 respectively.
• the safety catch 76 is shown to have a inwardly directed lip 88 at the distal end of the protuberance 78 and, in fact the inwardly directed lip 88 is a bifurcated lip that spans both sides of the ring 60 when the clasp is in the closed, latched position as a result of the arcuate recess 80 (Fig 9).
• the safety catch 76 is pivotally affixed to the second body 58 at the pivot 90 to enable it to rotate between its latched and unlatched positions.
• Fig. 11 there is shown a side view of the clasp of the present invention where the safety catch 76 has been moved from its unlatched position of Fig. 10 to a point where it is almost in its latched position.
• the inwardly directed lip 88 engages the outer edge 92 of the first body 56 and causes that first body 56 to be displaced in the direction of the arrow A, away from their normal magnetically attracted aligned orientation thereby misaligning the respective bar magnets 64, 66 so that the magnetic attraction is lessened.
• That outer edge 92 can be formed to be located in the desired position by constructing the first body 56 to be slightly longer than the second body 58.
• the inwardly directed lip 88 has passed over the outer edge 92 of the first body 56 and thereby frees the first body 56 to rapidly move, propelled by the mutual attraction of the bar magnets 64, 66, back to the aligned position where the poles of the respective bar magnets 64, 66 are again in perfect alignment and that rapid movement produces a click that can be heard and/or felt by the wearer.
• the sound or feeling of the and/ is a good, reassuring indication to the wearer that the clasp has been fully joined together and that the safety catch 76 is properly positioned in its latched position so that the wearer can be assured that the clasp is solidly affixed together and there is little danger of it being inadvertently separated with a potential loss of the jewelry.
• the detaching or separating of the clasp is readily accomplished by two quite different means.
• the clasp can be parted without even unlatching the safety catch 28.
• the first and second bodies 56, 58 cannot be pulled apart outwardly, since the inwardly directed lip 88 prevents that movement, however, the first and second bodies 56, 58 can be moved towards each other and thus create a misalignment of the magnetic means to allow the first and second bodies 56, 58 to be easily separated.
• the first body 56 can be moved laterally, or along the longitudinal centerline C (Fig. 9) of the magnets to misalign the magnets. Once the inwardly directed lip 88 has been cleared, the first body 56 is free to be moved downwardly to separate it from the second body 58 since the magnetic attraction has been essentially eliminated. As such, the opening of the clasp can be accomplished with one hand without need for actual visual perception of the clasp.
• the safety catch 76 can be moved for its latched position to its unlatched position by the user and the first and second bodies 56, 58 pulled apart.
• There may be a means to assist the wearer in engaging the safety catch 76 such as a ball or a projection 93 on the safety catch 76 to assist the user in using a fingernail to move that safety catch to the unlatched position.
• Figs 13 and 14 there is shown a top view and a side view of a typical magnet 94 that can be used with the present invention.
• a typical magnet 94 there is a bore 96 formed in the magnet 94 with a countersink 98.
• the magnets of the present invention can be affixed to the bodies by means of an adhesive, however, a different technique is utilized for maximum accuracy, uniformity and ease of assembly.
• the magnets are made with a countersunk hole in the middle of the magnet as illustrated in Figs. 13 and 14. In the use of bi-polar magnets, however, the countersunk hole is difficult to make in that the magnet may have a thickness in the order of 0.76 mm.
• Fig. 15 there is a body 100 having a recess 102 formed therein for receipt of the magnet 94 and, as can be seen, there is a post 104 that extends upward from the center area of the recess 102.
• the post 104 is comprised of a soft material and, in the assembly of magnet 94 to the body 100, the magnet 94 is inserted such that the post 104 enters into the bore 96 as the magnet 94 is fully inserted to rest within the recessl02.
• the upper end of the post 104 is pressed into the countersink 98 leaving a flat surface on the top of the magnet and fully securing the magnet 94 within the recess 102.
• FIG. 16 there is shown a top view of yet another embodiment of the present invention. Again, therefore, there is a first body 106 and a second body 108 each having a ring 110, 112 for attachment to the particular chain of the jewelry.
• first body 106 and a second body 108 each having a ring 110, 112 for attachment to the particular chain of the jewelry.
• single multiple polar bar magnets 114, 116 with the bar magnet 114 having a north pole 118 and a south pole 120 and with the bar magnet 116 also having a south pole 122 and a north pole 124 both of which are oriented so that the poles of each bar magnet 114, 116 is on the longitudinal centerline of the first and second bodies 106, 108.
• the north pole 114 and south pole 116 of the first body 106 will be aligned, respectively, with the south pole 116 and the north pole 118 of the second body 108 such that there will be a magnetic attraction between the respective bar magnets 114, 116 to pull and retain the first and second bodies 106, 108 together.
• the upper surface of the second body 108 also has an indentation 126 formed therein to serve a purpose to be later described.
• a safety catch 128 having a protuberance 130 extending outwardly from the free end thereof at about a right angle.
• the safety catch 128 is shown in its unlatched position and is pivotally affixed to the side 132 of the first body 106, that is, the side remote from the location of the indentation 126 to enable the safety catch 128 to move between its latched position and its unlatched position.
• Fig. 17 there is shown a side view of the clasp of the present invention.
• the bar magnets 114 and 116 form the flat, planar, mating magnetically attractive surfaces 134 and 136, respectively.
• the metal plate 138 is constructed of a magnetically attractive material.
• the bar magnets 114, 116 are located with recesses 142, 144 formed, respectively, within the first and second bodies 106, 108 with recesses and, again the poles of the bar magnets 114, 116 are aligned along the longitudinal centerline C of the first and second bodies 106, 108.
• the bar magnets 114 and 116 have become aligned with each other and the magnetically attractive surfaces 134, 136 are in abutting relationship and are held together by the magnetic attraction of the bar magnets 114, 116 since the north pole 118 of bar magnet 114 is directly abutting and aligned with the south pole 122 of bar magnet 116 and, likewise, the south pole 122 of bar magnet 116 is aligned and contacting the north pole 124 of bar magnet 116, thus, in each instance, the magnetically attractive surfaces 134, 136 are attracted to each other by the mating of the opposite poles of the individual magnets.
• the safety catch 128 is held firmly in its latched position by means of the metal plate 138, preferably steel, that is magnetically attracted to the bar magnets 114, 116 and that magnetic attraction holds the safety catch 128 in its latched position of Fig. 18.
• the magnetically attractive material can be integral with the safety catch 128 itself. The basic principal of the attraction between the safety catch 128 and the magnetic means is shown and described in U.S. Patent 6,591,462, issued July 15, 2003 to Esther C. Fuhrman and the disclosure of that patent is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
• the release of the clasp freeing the first and second bodies 106, 108 is also readily accomplished by simply opening the safety catch 128 by overcoming the magnetic attraction that holds it in the latched position and rotating the safety catch 128 to its unlatched position from its latched position, whereupon the first and second bodies 106, 108 are simply pulled apart from each other in opposite directions, such that the magnetic attraction is readily dissipated, and the first and second bodies 106, 108 easily come apart.

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• 2004
  • 2004-07-21 WO PCT/US2004/023432 patent/WO2005009167A2/en active Application Filing
  • 2004-07-21 JP JP2006521207A patent/JP4740846B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2004-07-21 EP EP04778785A patent/EP1651074A4/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2004-07-21 CA CA2533217A patent/CA2533217C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related

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