Bead System

Abstract

A bead having a cylindrical opening for passage of a strand and a crest mounted on the strand. The opening comprises central cavity having a first diameter, and first and second ends each having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter of the central cavity. The first and second ends further comprises a notch disposed at a selected position along the circumference of the opening, wherein the notch at the first end is not radially aligned along the longitudinal bead axis with the notch at the second end. The diameter of the opening is sufficient along its entire length to permit an unadorned strand to pass through and be rotated freely. The crest is of a size and shape selected to pass through either end of the opening by aligning the crest with the corresponding notch at that end, but is too large to pass through either of the ends of the opening when not aligned with a corresponding notch.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to bead systems. In particular, the present invention relates to a bead system for preventing unintended removal of a bead from a jewelry strand.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is common for beaded strands of jewelry to be worn for a variety of purposes, including as fashion accessories. The prior art devices generally used simple smooth openings through a bead to allow ease of strand mounting and removal of a bead. Such prior art is not ideal. In the case of simple smooth openings in a bead, the bead is free to slide off of the strand unintentionally, for example, while the user is opening the strand to place it around the neck, wrist or ankle. One form of preventing the beads from falling off was first stringing the beads on a strand, and then permanently attaching an object or tying a knot in the strand larger than the holes of the strung beads. This solution, however, made changing the beads difficult.

Alternatively, some prior art devices permit the fixing of a bead in a desired location on a strand. This too is not ideal, as the aesthetic appeal of bead movement and, for a necklace for example, of bead centering caused by gravity, are lost. The device of the present invention is designed to be aesthetically beautiful while overcoming the problem of unintentional removal of beads from a strand.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

There is provided a bead system for a jewelry strand comprising bead retention means attached to the jewelry strand for restricting bead removal from the jewelry strand; and one or more beads having an internal opening and obstruction means disposed along the internal opening for restricting bead removal from a jewelry strand.

The bead retention means may comprise an annular cap having a crest projecting therefrom, and the diameter of the internal opening, at a position between the first and second ends, is sufficient to permit free rotation of the crest therein.

The obstruction means may comprise a first narrowed opening having a first notch extending outwardly from the internal opening at a first end of the bead and a second narrowed opening having a second notch extending outwardly from the internal opening at a second end of the bead, wherein the first and second notches are not radially aligned and permit passage of the crested cap therethrough. The first and second notches may be radially opposite each other across the longitudinal axis of the bead.

The outer surface of the annular cap and the surface of the opening may have a circular cross-section, apart from the notches and crest. Alternatively, the outer surface of the annular cap and the surface of the opening may have a polygonal cross-section, apart from the notches and crest.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS OF THE INVENTION

The invention will be better understood when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of the bead device of the present invention, showing the crest on the cap on the strand and the notch in one end of the opening of the bead;

FIG. 2 is a transverse cross-sectional view of a first end of the bead of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the bead of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a second end of the bead of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a side view of a bead mounted on a strand.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

There is provided a device and system for preventing unintended removal of beads from a jewelry strand. The bead device is designed to be strung in an innovative fashion. Stringing the bead device requires the alignment of a crest and a notch at each end of the bead device for the strand with the attached crest to pass through. Removing the bead device requires the same alignment as when stringing. One purpose of the invention is for use in the jewelry and accessories industry as an improved bead assembly which permits the easy and convenient addition and removal of beads to and from a strand, while also preventing beads from easily falling off of an open strand.

The bead device of the present invention comprises a bead having a cylindrical opening therein for passage of a strand. The opening comprises central cavity having a first diameter, and first and second ends each having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter of the central cavity. The first end further comprises a notch disposed at a selected position along the circumference of the opening extending from the first end to the central cavity. The second end further comprises a second notch disposed at a selected position along the circumference of the opening extending from the second end to the central cavity, wherein the notch at the first end is not radially aligned along the longitudinal bead axis with the notch at the second end. Preferably, the first end notch is radially opposite the second end notch along the longitudinal axis of the bead. The diameter of the opening is of sufficient diameter along its entire length to permit an unadorned strand to pass freely therethrough.

The device and system of the present invention further comprises a crest mounted on the strand near a bead mounting end. The crest is of a size and shape selected to pass through either end of the opening by aligning the crest with the corresponding notch at that end, but it is too large to pass through either of the ends of the opening when not aligned with a corresponding notch.

Referring to FIG. 1A, one end of the strand 2 is attached to a cap 4 with a crest 6 projecting radially from the cap. The crested cap may be attached to a pin 8, or directly to the strand. As shown in FIGS. 1B, 2, 3 and 4, the bead device 10 is a hollow cylinder defining an opening along its longitudinal axis. The bead device has opposed first and second ends 12, 14 having a narrower inner diameter than a middle portion 16 of the bead device. First end 12 has a first notch 18 positioned across the longitudinal axis of the bead radially opposite a second notch 20 in second end 14. The positioning of the notches may vary, provided they are not co-linear or substantially co-linear so as to permit unintentional direct passage of the crest through both notches without rotation of the bead device.

Referring to FIG. 5, with the bead device strung on a strand, the inner diameter of the middle portion of the bead device is greater than the diameter of the strand, creating a space around the strand inside of the bead device. This space allows the crest of the cap to be fully rotated, including a 180 degree rotation from one side of the axis to the other, such that when stringing the bead device, the crest can pass through a first notch 18, be rotated 180 degrees, and pass through the second notch 20.

When in position on the strand, the structure of the bead device provides a locking mechanism to reduce the possibility of removal or loss of a bead from the strand unintentionally. a bead may not be removed from the strand without a process of alignment and rotation to allow the crest to pass through the opposed end notches.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that other variations of the preferred embodiment may also be practiced without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A bead system for a jewelry strand comprising:

a) bead retention means attached to the jewelry strand for restricting bead removal from the jewelry strand; and

b) one or more beads having an internal opening and obstruction means disposed along the internal opening for restricting bead removal from a jewelry strand.

2. The bead system of claim 1, wherein the bead retention means comprises an annular cap having a crest projecting therefrom, and the diameter of the internal opening, at a position between the first and second ends, is sufficient to permit free rotation of the crest therein.

3. The bead system of claim 2, wherein the obstruction means comprises a first narrowed opening having a first notch extending outwardly from the internal opening at a first end of the bead and a second narrowed opening having a second notch extending outwardly from the internal opening at a second end of the bead, wherein the first and second notches are not radially aligned and permit passage of the crested cap therethrough.

4. The bead device of claim 3 wherein the first and second notches are radially opposite each other across the longitudinal axis of the bead.

5. The bead system of claim 4 wherein the outer surface of the annular cap and the surface of the opening have a circular cross-section, apart from the notches and crest.

6. The bead system of claim 4 wherein the outer surface of the annular cap and the surface of the opening have a polygonal cross-section, apart from the notches and crest.