INTERLOCKING LINKS FOR JEWELRY
A jewelry piece comprising strands made from connected links wherein complementary strands may be interconnected to form double strands or larger strands consisting of multiple interconnected single strands.
This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 29/331,823 filed on Feb. 2, 2009, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe field of this invention is jewelry, more particularly, strands of jewelry made up of connected links wherein complementary strands may be interconnected to form double strands or larger strands consisting of multiple interconnected single strands.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONJewelry has been used as a body adornment throughout human history. Staple components of jewelry include precious, semi-precious, and common stones, shiny metal, and intricate and aesthetically pleasing designs. Many forms of jewelry also consist of links connected to form a chain, in connection with which jewels and other objects may be strung, mounted, hung, or otherwise attached thereto. This invention is for a series of interlocking links that, in addition to providing interlocking functionality, also may be formed of precious metals and may be used as mountings for stones. When worn or exhibited as described herein, the interlocking links of this invention may be configured into a variety of common forms of jewelry, including a necklace, earrings, a bracelet, or other types of jewelry.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIndividual links formed of gold, silver, or other suitable metal, may be formed into chains or strands connected by smaller, conventional links. Each link has a form similar to the shape of the Greek letter omega. Complementary strands may be fitted into one another to form double strands that may be used simply as a double strand, such as for a drop earring, pin, or bracelet; or single strands may be used alone to form similar pieces of lighter weight. Stones may be mounted within loops of the individual links, or may follow a pattern of alternating colors, or of placing a stone in a strand every 2 or 3 links, or in some other pattern.
Strands are assembled using conventional small, round loops that attach to the ends of adjacent links. In order to form complementary strands that interlock, a notch is situated at the outermost top part of each omega-shaped link to allow omega-shaped links to fit within adjacent links of the complementary strand and to provide sufficient space for a corresponding small loop that is connecting the adjacent links of the complementary strand.
It is an object of this invention to provide an aesthetically pleasing strand that may be used to create jewelry pieces.
It is another object of the invention to provide complementary strands that may be interlinked to one another.
It is yet another object of the invention to provide individual links that may be connected to form a strand.
Still another object of the invention is to provide individual links upon which stones may be mounted.
Another object of the invention is to provide a strand that may be looped back upon itself to form a partially closed zipper.
These and other objects of the invention will become apparent through the following descriptions of the invention and of the accompanying drawings.
As depicted in
Interlocking chains may also be used in other embodiments to create aesthetically pleasing jewelry.
Other embodiments using the linking mechanism of this invention will be apparent to persons of skill in the art. The invention is not limited solely to those embodiments depicted and described herein, but encompass other embodiments that fall within the scope of the following appended claims.
Claims
1. A jewelry piece comprising:
- a strand, said strand further comprising a plurality of connected links, each said link comprising,
- a rounded head portion;
- a narrow waist portion;
- a foot portion having two opposing, outwardly flaring feet; and
- a notch extending transversely on said outer surface of said rounded head portion;
- each outwardly flaring foot of an internal link in said strand being adjacent to an outwardly flaring foot of an adjacent link, said adjacent links being connected by at least one joining link that pierces each said outwardly flaring foot.
2. The jewelry piece of claim 1 wherein a substantially round space is formed by the joinder of said outwardly flaring foot and said narrow waist portions of said adjacent links.
3. The jewelry piece of claim 2, said strand comprising a first strand, said jewelry piece further comprising a second strand of connected links, whereby at least some of said rounded heads of said links of said second strand fit within and are locked into said substantially round spaces formed by said adjacent links of said first strand.
4. The jewelry piece of claim 3, said at least one joining link further comprising a substantially circular link connecting two adjacent interlocking links.
5. The jewelry piece of claim 3 further comprising a first section in which said strands are not interlocked, a second section in which said strands are interlocked, and a guide plate,
- said guide plate forming a narrowing channel at the junction of said first and second sections such that, as said guide moves in the direction of said first section, said rounded heads of said links of said first strand are pressed into interlocking configuration with said substantially round spaces formed by said adjacent links of said second strand.
6. The jewelry piece of claim 5 whereby, as said guide plate moves in the direction of said second section, said rounded heads of said interlocked links are released from being locked within said substantially round space.
7. The jewelry piece of claim 1, further comprising an ornamental object mounted within said rounded heads of said links.
8. The jewelry piece of claim 5 comprising a drop earring having a double strand.
9. The jewelry piece of claim 5 comprising a bracelet formed from a double strand.
10. The jewelry piece of claim 5 comprising a necklace.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 7, 2009
Publication Date: Aug 5, 2010
Inventor: Gary Sorenson (Tegucigalpa)
Application Number: 12/419,662
International Classification: A44C 25/00 (20060101); A44C 7/00 (20060101); A44C 5/02 (20060101); A44C 5/00 (20060101);