BRACELET

Abstract

A bracelet comprising a body member having a locking aperture provided in one end of the body member and a locking piece formed by the locking aperture; a steel sheet spring fitted such that the proximal end is fastened to the inside of the other end of the body member and the distal end is pushed outwardly by the elasticity of the steel sheet spring; and a locking member in which the rear end is fastened to the distal end of the steel sheet spring, a locking protrusion projecting from the outer surface of the front end and engaging with the locking piece through the locking aperture from the inside to the outside thereof is formed, and a pressing piece projecting from the outer surface of the direct rear portion of the locking protrusion and exposed outwardly from the other end of the body member.

Description

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application makes reference to, incorporates the same herein, and claims all benefits accruing under 35 U.S.C. §119 from an application earlier filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on 15 Jun. 2011 and there duly assigned Serial No. 10-2011-0057982.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a bracelet, and in particular, to a bracelet which can be worn and/or taken off against on the wrist very simply and easily.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A bracelet, which is a type of accessories worn on the wrist, has generally locking members at its both ends, and the locking members are interconnected to prevent the bracelet from being taken off from the wrist while wearing the bracelet, or the locking members are released to take off the bracelet from the wrist.

In case of conventional locking members, they have complicated configurations, and manipulations for engaging and/or unengaging both ends of a bracelet using such locking members is also complicated. Thus, cumbersome and inconvenient actions may be required for wearing and/or unwearing a bracelet. Also, in some cases, such locking members are not securely locked, and they may be released spontaneously. As a result, a bracelet might frequently be taken off from the wrist by itself, and fall on the ground and damage, or even it may be lost. In such cases, since it is required to purchase a new bracelet, resources and costs may be wasted.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention has been invented to solve these problems. It is an object of this invention to provide a bracelet which can be worn and/or taken off against the wrist very simply and easily.

It is another object of this invention to provide a bracelet of which both ends can be securely locked with a simple configuration, thereby avoiding the waste of resources and costs.

In order to achieve these objects, according to this invention, it is provided a bracelet comprising a body member which is in the form of chain or ring and has a locking aperture provided in one end of the body member and a locking piece formed by the locking aperture; a steel sheet spring fitted such that the proximal end is fastened to the inside of the other end of the body member, as the counter part of the locking piece and the distal end is pushed outwardly by the elasticity of the steel sheet spring; and a locking member in which the rear end is fastened to the distal end of the steel sheet spring, a locking protrusion projecting from the outer surface of the front end and engaging with the locking piece through the locking aperture from the inside to the outside thereof is formed, and a pressing piece projecting from the outer surface of the direct rear portion and exposed outwardly from the other end of the body member is formed, wherein when both ends of the body member are connected, the locking piece passes over the locking protrusion while pressing it and the locking member is pressed inwardly, and then if the locking protrusion is positioned in the locking aperture, the locking member is pushed outwardly by the elasticity of the steel sheet spring and the locking protrusion is engaged with the locking piece, thus the locking elements are securely locked not to be released spontaneously, and wherein when the pressing piece is pressed by force greater than the elasticity of the steel sheet spring, the locking member is pressed and the engagement between the engaging protrusion and the locking protrusion is released to unlock simply the locking elements. Accordingly, the bracelet according to this invention may be simply worn and/or taken off against the wrist in one-touch way.

As such, the bracelet according to this invention has a simple configuration such that the bracelet can be simply and easily worn and/or taken off against the wrist in one-touch way. Furthermore, the bracelet according to this invention can be securely locked at its both ends, thereby avoiding the loss of wearing bracelet and the waste of resources and costs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete appreciation of the invention, and many of the attendant advantages thereof, will be readily apparent as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference symbols indicate the same or similar components, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a bracelet according to an embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the bracelet of FIG. 1 with both ends being locked.

FIG. 3a is an enlarged cross-sectional view of both ends in the bracelet of FIG. 1 before both ends are locked.

FIG. 3b is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing both ends locked in the bracelet of FIG. 3a.

FIG. 3c is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a pressing piece pressed in the bracelet of FIG. 3b.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a locking member and a steel sheet spring in the bracelet of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, the bracelet according to this invention will be described in detail with reference to an embodiment of this invention and the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a bracelet according to an embodiment of this invention; FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the bracelet of FIG. 1 with both ends being locked; FIG. 3a is an enlarged cross-sectional view of both ends in the bracelet of FIG. 1 before both ends are locked; FIG. 3h is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing both ends. locked in the bracelet of FIG. 3a; FIG. 3c is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a pressing piece pressed in the bracelet of FIG. 3b; and FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a locking member and a steel sheet spring in the bracelet of FIG. 1.

According to an embodiment of this invention, a bracelet comprises body member 10 having locking aperture 11 provided in one end of body member 10 and locking piece 12 formed by locking aperture 11; steel sheet spring 20 fitted such that the proximal end is fastened to the inside of the other end of body member 10, as the counterpart of locking piece 12 and the distal end is pushed outwardly by the elasticity of steel sheet spring 20; and locking member 30 in which the rear end is fastened to the distal end of steel sheet spring 20, locking protrusion 31 projecting from the outer surface of the front end and engaging with locking piece 12 through locking aperture 11 from the inside to the outside thereof is formed, and pressing piece 32 projecting from the outer surface of the direct rear portion and exposed outwardly from the other end of body member 10 is formed.

Body member 10 has the form of chain or ring. In the form of ring, body member 10 is connected using hinge 13 at the center of body member 10, and the space between two separated portions may be widened. Also, mounting groove 14 is formed in the inside of one end of body member 10, and steel sheet spring 20 is fastened to mounting groove 14 with the proximal end of steel sheet spring 20 being not projected from said inside.

Also, through-groove 15 is formed in the other end of body member 10, and pressing piece 32 is exposed outwardly through through-groove 15, so that both ends of body member 10 may be closed with the thickness of pressing piece 32 when both ends are locked.

Locking protrusion 31 of locking member 30 is formed with the front surface biased, so that the corresponding locking piece 12 with the lower surface biased may easily pass over locking protrusion 31 while pressing it. The outer end of pressing piece 32 is formed with the surface curved.

Furthermore, the fastening of steel sheet spring 20 to mounting groove 14 and the fastening of locking member 30 to steel sheet spring 20 may he achieved using a means such as a rivet.

When wearing the bracelet configured according to this invention, first, body member 10 of the bracelet is widened and the bracelet is put on the wrist with both ends of body member 10 being spaced apart as shown in FIG. 3a. Then, body member 10 is closed such that its both ends are connected.

Thereby, locking piece 12 passes over locking protrusion 31 while pressing it, when locking member 30 is pressed inwardly. Subsequently, if locking protrusion 31 is positioned in locking aperture 11 and is no longer pressed, then locking member 30 is pushed outwardly by the elasticity of steel sheet spring 20 and locking protrusion 31 is engaged with locking piece 12. As a result, both ends of body member 10 are securely locked as shown in FIG. 3b, and this locked state is securely maintained and not released by itself due to the elasticity of steel sheet spring 20.

In this state, in order to take off the bracelet, as shown in FIG. 3c, pressing piece 32 is pressed by force greater than the elasticity of steel sheet spring 20 to press locking member 30 and to release the engagement between engaging protrusion 31 and locking piece 12. Then, the bracelet may immediately be taken off.

As such, in the bracelet according to an embodiment of this invention, when closing and connecting both ends of body member 10 to engage locking protrusion 31 with locking piece 12, and releasing the engagement between locking protrusion 31 and locking piece 12 by pressing pressing piece 32, each operation may be done in one-touch way. Accordingly, the bracelet according to this invention may be worn and/or taken off against the wrist very simply and easily.

THE DESCRIPTIONS FOR REFERENCE NUMBERS

10: body member    11: locking aperture
12: locking piece  20: steel sheet spring
30: locking member 31: locking protrusion
32: pressing piece

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. A bracelet having first and second sections hinged together at a first end of each of the first and second sections to facilitate opening and closing of the bracelet, the bracelet comprising:

a locking aperture in the first section, the locking aperture forming a locking piece at a second end of the first section;

a locking member comprising: a locking protrusion, the locking protrusion fitting within the locking aperture and catching the locking piece when the bracelet is in a closed position; a pressing piece enabling a user to release the locking protrusion from the locking piece to facilitate opening the bracelet; and a notch separating the locking protrusion from the pressing piece; and

a spring, the spring having a first end fixedly fastened directly to a second end of the second section, the spring having a second end fixedly fastened directly to the locking member.

3. The bracelet as set forth in claim 2, the pressing piece extending past an outer circumferential surface of the second section when the user does not press on the pressing piece.

4. The bracelet as set forth in claim 2, further comprising a notch formed in the second end of the second section, the notch accommodating the pressing piece.

5. The bracelet as set forth in claim 3, further comprising a notch formed in the second end of the second section, the notch accommodating the pressing piece.

6. The bracelet as set forth in claim 4, the pressing piece extending through the notch and past an outer circumferential surface of the second section when the user does not press on the pressing piece.

7. The bracelet as set forth in claim 2, the spring comprising sheet metal.

8. A bracelet having first and second sections hinged together at a first end of each of the first and second sections to facilitate opening and closing of the bracelet, the bracelet comprising:

a locking aperture formed in the first section, the locking aperture forming a locking piece at a second end of the first section;

a locking member attached to an inner surface area of the second section, the locking member comprising: a locking protrusion extending past a second end of the second section, the locking protrusion fitting within the locking aperture and catching the locking piece when the bracelet is in a closed position; a pressing piece enabling a user to release the locking protrusion from the locking piece to facilitate opening the bracelet; and a notch separating the locking protrusion from the pressing piece; and

a spring, the spring having a first end fixedly fastened directly to the second end of the second section, the spring having a second end fixedly fastened directly to the locking member.

9. The bracelet as set forth in claim 8, the pressing piece extending past an outer circumferential surface of the second section when the user does not press on the pressing piece.

10. The bracelet as set forth in claim 8, further comprising a groove formed in the second end of the second section, the groove accommodating the pressing piece.

11. The bracelet as set forth in claim 9, further comprising a groove formed in the second end of the second section, the groove accommodating the pressing piece.

12. The bracelet as set forth in claim 10, the pressing piece extending through the groove and above an outer circumferential surface of the second section when the user does not press on the pressing piece.

13. The bracelet as set forth in claim 8, the spring comprising sheet metal.

14. A bracelet comprising:

a first section and second section;

a hinge rotatably connecting a first end of the first section to a first end of the second section to facilitate opening and closing of the bracelet;

a locking aperture formed in a second end of the first section, the locking aperture forming a locking piece at a proximal end of the first section;

a locking member attached to an inner circumferential surface area of the second section, the locking member comprising: a locking protrusion extending beyond a second end of the second section, the locking protrusion fitting within the locking aperture and catching the locking piece when the bracelet is in a closed position; a pressing piece enabling a user to release the locking protrusion from the locking piece to facilitate opening the bracelet; and a notch separating the locking protrusion from the pressing piece, the notch accommodating the locking piece when the bracelet is in the closed position; and

a spring, the spring having a first end fixedly fastened directly to the inner circumferential surface area of the second end of the second section, the spring having a second end fixedly fastened directly to the locking member.

15. The bracelet as set forth in claim 14, further comprising a groove formed in a proximal end of the second section, the groove accommodating the pressing piece.

16. The bracelet as set forth in claim 15, the pressing piece extending through the groove and above an outer circumferential surface of the second section when the user does not press on the pressing piece.