Retractable Jewelry Fastener
A fastener is provided for extendably holding ends of a piece of jewelry together. The fastener includes two fastener bodies and a cord. Each fastener body is affixable to one end of the piece of jewelry. One fastener body includes a housing and a spring biased cord retraction mechanism. The cord retraction mechanism is positioned within the housing. The housing has an opening through which the cord passes. The cord is tethered between the first fastener body and the cord retraction mechanism so that the cord retraction mechanism draws the cord into the second fastener body, pulling the first and second fastener bodies together.
People often desire to adorn themselves, or their pets, with jewelry. Sometimes, jewelry wearers may have a difficult time fastening and unfastening regular jewelry clasps. Additionally, conventional jewelry clasps often come unfastened when the wearer desires for them to stay fastened.
Piece of jewelry 4 is any type of jewelry, such as a necklace, choker, collar, bracelet, watchstrap, anklet, earring, or body jewelry, having at least two ends which are joined to form a loop for encircling a body part of a human or animal.
Fastener 2 includes two fastener bodies 10, 12. Fastener bodies 10, 12 are each affixed to one end 6, 8 of piece of jewelry 4.
A cord 28 is tethered between fastener body 12 and cord retraction mechanism 24. Cord 28 is of any suitable length and is formed of any suitable material in any desired color.
Cord 28 passes through opening 26. Cord retraction mechanism 24 is configured to draw cord 28 into fastener body 10, pulling fastener bodies 10, 12 together.
In an alternative embodiment, not illustrated, fastener body 12 also includes a housing 22, a spring biased cord retraction mechanism 24 within housing 22, and an opening 26 formed in housing 22. In this embodiment, the cord 28 is tethered between each of the spring biased cord retraction mechanisms 24.
Although shown in the Figures as bead-shaped, fastener bodies 10, 12 may be shaped in any form, so long as at least one of the fastener bodies 10, 12 includes housing 22 and spring biased cord retraction mechanism 24. Furthermore, fastener bodies 10, 12 may, but need not, be similarly shaped. Faster bodies 10, 12 are manufactured from any suitable material and are of any suitable size.
Additionally illustrated in
In practice, fastener 2 is attached to ends 6, 8 of piece of jewelry 4. Fastener bodies 10, 12 are then manually pulled apart to enlarge piece of jewelry 4. Enlarging piece of jewelry 4 allows it to more easily fit the body part where it is to be worn. For example, piece of jewelry 4 may be a necklace that, when clasped, does not fit over the wearer's head. Fastener 2 is affixed to the clasps of the necklace. Fastener bodies 10, 12 are then manually pulled apart to allow the necklace to fit over the wearer's head. When released, spring biased cord retraction mechanism 24 pulls bodies 10, 12 together.
The foregoing description is only illustrative of the invention. Various alternatives, modifications, and variances can be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the present invention embraces all such alternatives, modifications, and variances that fall within the scope of the described invention.
Claims
1. A fastener for extendably holding ends of a piece of jewelry together, the fastener comprising:
- a first fastener body affixable to a first end of the piece of jewelry;
- a second fastener body affixable to a second end of the piece of jewelry, the second fastener body including a housing and a spring biased cord retraction mechanism within the housing, the housing having an opening formed therein;
- a cord tethered between the first fastener body and the cord retraction mechanism and passing through the opening in the housing, wherein the cord retraction mechanism is configured to draw the cord into the second fastener body, pulling the first and second fastener bodies together.
2. The fastener of claim 1 further including, formed in each fastener body, a loop for attachment to one of the ends of the piece of jewelry.
3. The fastener of claim 2 further including first and second jump rings for attachment to one of the ends of the piece of jewelry, the first jump ring attached to the loop in the first fastener body and the second jump ring attached to the loop in the second fastener body.
4. The fastener of claim 1 wherein the spring biased cord retraction mechanism includes a reel for holding the cord and a spring biasing the reel to resist paying out the cord from the reel.
5. The fastener of claim 1 further including a locking mechanism configured to electively prevent the cord retraction mechanism from retracting the cord.
6. The fastener of claim 1 further including a locking mechanism configured to electively prevent the cord retraction mechanism from paying out the cord.
7. A jewelry piece including:
- a flexible strip having first and second ends;
- a first fastener body affixed to the first end of the strip;
- a second fastener body affixed to the second end of the strip, the second fastener body including a housing and a spring biased cord retraction mechanism within the housing, the housing having an opening formed therein;
- a cord tethered between the first fastener body and the cord retraction mechanism and passing through the opening in the housing, wherein the cord retraction mechanism is configured to draw the cord into the second fastener body, pulling the first and second fastener bodies together.
8. The jewelry piece of claim 7 further including, formed in each fastener body, a loop for attachment to one of the ends of the strip.
9. The jewelry piece of claim 8 further including first and second jump rings for attachment to one of the ends of the strip, the first jump ring attached to the loop in the first fastener body and the second jump ring attached to the loop in the second fastener body.
10. The jewelry piece of claim 7 wherein the spring biased cord retraction mechanism includes a reel for holding the cord and a spring biasing the reel to resist paying out the cord from the reel.
11. The jewelry piece of claim 7 further including a locking mechanism configured to electively prevent the cord retraction mechanism from retracting the cord.
12. The jewelry piece of claim 7 further including a locking mechanism configured to electively prevent the cord retraction mechanism from paying out the cord.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 14, 2007
Publication Date: May 14, 2009
Inventor: Crystal L. Mabra (Colorado Springs, CO)
Application Number: 11/940,179
International Classification: A44C 5/04 (20060101);