Jewelry Item with a Plurality of Interchangeable Strands and Clasps

Abstract

A jewelry bracelet or necklace comprising a plurality of individual, customizable bead strands, each strand having a closed loop at opposed ends. The bracelet or necklace further comprises a clasp for holding an end of each bead strand. This clasp has a spring-loaded claw closure; a cone-shaped collar for covering at least a lower end of the claw closure; and a connecting loop or bar below the cone-shaped collar. A clasp for this style of multi-stranded bracelet or necklace is also disclosed.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a perfection of Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/087,866, filed on Dec. 5, 2014, the disclosure of which is fully incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention pertains to a jewelry item. More particularly, it pertains to a wrist or ankle bracelet and to a necklace that includes at least one strand connected to a clasp on at least one end. The invention further pertains to an improved clamp for such jewelry items.

Statistics show that the average American household spends between $167 and $252 PER YEAR on jewelry. Clothing is often used for personal expression. Accessories have become the ‘finishing touch’ on the clothing chosen, adding emphasis to that expression and completing the look. People are constantly changing their style, usually influenced by their region, an event, a season, etc. For that reason they are constantly changing their accessories in the same manner.

2. Relevant Art

Numerous clasp designs have been patented over the years. A representative sampling of those, in chronological order, follows:

Fuhrman et al. U.S. Published Application No. 20150230565 shows a jewelry clasp with two magnetic configurations that, when joined together, provide a mechanical locking arrangement.

Martin U.S. Published Application No. 20080250616 shows a jewelry clasp that includes both a spring and a removable bead pin.

Terzian U.S. Published Application No. 20030066171 shows a jewelry clasp with an internal engagement that can be operated in multiple directions.

Mangano U.S. Pat. No. 5,722,260 shows a shell-like jewelry clasp for necklaces and/or bracelets with both hooks and magnets.

Elsener U.S. Pat. No. 4,815,180 shows a transferable jewelry clasp having a hinge on one side and a snap clasp on the opposite side.

Sauer et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,324,389 shows the double fold over jewelry clasp common in many items of the 1980's and 1990's.

And Neumann et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,570,078 shows an early version of jewelry clasp that employed a spring-loaded ball connector.

What is needed is an accessory item (bracelet or necklace) that allows its user/owner to change the color combination or material combination, thereby instantly changing the look. Such an item would be advantageous in several ways: it would allow its users to truly customize their outfit. It would also be quite economical in the sense that its user purchases one clasp and then one or more bracelet strands as they care to, desire or can afford. Yet a third way such a clasp would become advantageous is that its user can layer multiple strands of materials adding texture and color to any outfit with just one bracelet or necklace.

Also needed is a new clasp configuration that would be easy for someone with arthritic or dexterity issues to use. A toggle clasp is an easy jewelry connector for the average wearer to handle without the help of another as some clasp types are too small to operate easily or properly. And a lobster clasp opens smoothly using a spring to open and close making it one of the most secure clasps available.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention allows its users to add and remove strands of jewelry from their bracelets and/or necklaces. A first embodiment is a wrist or ankle bracelet with easily interchangeable strand elements that are intended for sale under the brand name, STRANDED™. Other variations would cover a choker or necklace with still other jewelry device options under development.

In a first preferred embodiment, there is at least one strand of jewelry beads connected to at least one clasp. More preferably, there are multiple strands of beads with each strand being independent of the other strands. Each strand has at least one end and each end has a loop capable of being clasped. Each clasp has at least one mechanism designed for permanently holding the strand.

In an alternative embodiment, the clasp includes at least one loop. The strand has at least one end and that end has at least one mechanism capable of holding a loop on a clasp. There is no limit to the number of strands that can be attached to a given clasp.

A primary object of this invention is to provide a clasp that allows for changes to be made to the bracelet or necklace. With the use of this clasp, the jewelry item can be a one-strand bracelet or a multi-strand bracelet. The clasp allows for different types of strands made of varying jewelry material to be added or removed. The clasp allows for customization of the bracelet to meet its user's style. The clasp is made specific for the interchangeable bracelet style and the strands of beads and other jewelry material are designed specifically for the clasp.

SUMMARY OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features, objectives and advantages of the present invention will become clearer per the detailed description that follows made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of one preferred embodiment of jewelry item showing multiple (two) individual strands and both versions of clasps therefor;

FIG. 2 is a top perspective close up showing the right side clasp and both separate strands from FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top, partial sectional view of a first end of clasp connector according to this invention;

FIG. 4 is a top, partial sectional view of a second clasp end for use with this invention;

FIG. 5 is a side sectional view of the clasp from FIG. 4 showing both a closed and open position therefor;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the clasp from FIGS. 4 and 5 broken down into its component parts; and

FIG. 7 is a close up view from the circled region of FIG. 6 showing an installation of the threaded clasp base, through its collar and into a threaded aperture in a corresponding clasp bar.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the accompanying drawings for various embodiments of the present invention, common components are commonly numbered though in the next hundred series.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings, FIGS. 1 through 4 show a first embodiment of jewelry item 10 which can be sized to be a wrist or ankle bracelet, or made with larger individual bead strands 12, 14 to serve as a woman's necklace.

More particularly, there is an item 10 comprised of several bead strands 12, 14 which can be customized for color, size, theme, etc., it being understood that such bead strands can be purchased after another's assembly OR custom-made by (or for) the wearer/user.

Each strand terminates in a closed loop 16 at a first end and a second (similarly sized and shaped) closed loop 18 at its opposite end. With such an arrangement, it is possible to position a plurality (at least two, maybe several more) of customized bead strands on the same end connector system (including clasps) though only two representative bead strands are shown in the accompanying drawings.

The closed loops 16, 18 allow a given set of strands to position “temporarily” on their respective clasp ends. Temporary, as used herein, is meant to indicate that any one strand may be fairly easily removed from the jewelry item 10 and replaced by one or more alternative bead strand arrangements (as the user sees fit for a given event and/or wardrobe color accent).

This configuration of bead strands is meant to compliment the novel arrangement of jewelry clasps used herewith. A first embodiment of clasp, element 20 in FIGS. 1 and 2, comprises a first claw closure 22 into which closed loop ends 16 of the bead strands 12, 14 are fastened. This variety of claw closure most resembles a carabiner with a fixed top hook 24 and a spring loaded bar 26 at one side. To better operate the latter spring bar 26, a finger latch 28 is provided that can hold bar 26 “open” long enough for adding/removing strands before snapping closed.

Below the claw closure 22, there is positioned a cone-shaped collar component 30 that preferably resembles a partially-flattened bell with an upper opening 32 leading down to a connector base 34. Preferably, collar 30 joins to the jewelry item base component 40, via connector base 34 using a spring-like arrangement (better seen in the partial cross-sectional view at FIG. 5. Therein, it can be seen how the collar proper may be tugged downwardly, in the direction of arrow A, for exposing a workable portion of the underlying claw closure. It is not necessary for the collar 30 to cover the whole of claw closure 22 but, at a minimum, it would be ideal to at least cover finger latch 28 so that it won't necessarily catch on the hair, other jewelry and/or clothing of the jewelry item wearer at any given time.

For this first claw-collar configuration, the entire assembly terminates in its own jewelry item solid connecting loop component 40. It is shown as a standard circular element designed for easy interaction with its connecting bar component 42 at the opposite end of jewelry item 10. Alternate variations may replace connecting bar 42 with its own lobster claw variety and/or still other known main clasp embodiments.

In FIGS. 5 through 7, a first alternative claw closure 122 is shown. Therein, this variation has a combination of a stationary hook element 124 together with a spring loaded base 126 that can be pulled down in the direction of arrow A for loading and unloading bead strand 112, via its loop 116 onto hook element 124. The relative movement of the base 126 can be seen with the silhouetted hook element (in dashed lines). When the spring-loaded base is released, it rejoins with stationary hook 124 for holding bead strands thereon. All of the foregoing sit within an outer cover or collar component 130, and its uppermost opening 132 before terminating at its lower end 134 as a connection to main jewelry bar component 142.

FIG. 7 shows a close up, exploded view from the circled area VII of FIG. 6. Therein, the hook element 124 to this claw closure alternative is emphasized showing its vertical stem 123 within protective collar 125 through which a threaded lower base 127 protrudes for connecting to a correspondingly threaded aperture 129 in connection bar component 142.

The preferred forms of the invention described above are to be used as illustration only, and should not be utilized in a limiting sense in interpreting the scope of the present invention. Modifications to these exemplary embodiments may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of this invention.

Claims

1. A jewelry item comprising:

(a) at least one strand of beads, said strand having a closed loop at opposed ends;

(b) a clasp for a first end of the strand of beads, said clasp having: (i) a first claw closure into which a first closed loop end of the strand of beads is fastened; (ii) a first cone-shaped collar for covering at least a lower end of the first claw closure; and (iii) a connecting loop below the first cone-shaped collar; and

(c) a clasp for a second end of the strand of beads, said clasp having: (i) a second claw closure into which a second closed loop end of the strand of beads is fastened; (ii) a second cone-shaped collar for covering at least a lower end of the second claw closure; and (iii) a connecting bar below the second cone-shaped collar.

2. The jewelry item of claim 1, which is a bracelet.

3. The jewelry item of claim 2, which is a wrist bracelet.

4. The jewelry item of claim 2, which is an ankle bracelet.

5. The jewelry item of claim 1, which is a necklace.

6. The jewelry item of claim 1, which includes two or more stranded beads.

7. The jewelry item of claim 6 wherein the stranded beads can be easily added or removed therefrom.

8. The jewelry item of claim 1 wherein the first claw closure and the second claw closure are spring loaded.

9. The jewelry item of claim 8 wherein at least one of the first claw closure and the second claw closure includes a carabiner.

10. The jewelry item of claim 9 wherein the carabiner includes a finger latch component.

11. The jewelry item of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first claw closure and the second claw closure includes a spring-activated hook and base combination.

12. A jewelry bracelet or necklace having a plurality of interchangeable strands of beads, said bracelet or necklace comprising:

(a) a plurality of individual, customizable bead strands, each strand having a closed loop at opposed ends;

(b) a clasp for a first end of each bead strand, said clasp having: (i) a first spring-loaded claw closure into which a first closed loop end of each bead strand is temporarily fastened; (ii) a first cone-shaped collar for covering at least a lower end of the first spring-loaded claw closure; and (iii) a connecting loop below the first cone-shaped collar;

(c) a clasp for a second end of each bead strand, said clasp having: (i) a second spring-loaded claw closure into which a second closed loop end of each bead strand is temporarily fastened; (ii) a second cone-shaped collar for covering at least a lower end of the second spring-loaded claw closure; and (iii) a connecting bar below the second cone-shaped collar.

13. The jewelry bracelet or necklace of claim 12, which is a wrist bracelet.

14. The jewelry bracelet or necklace of claim 12, which is an ankle bracelet.

15. The jewelry bracelet or necklace of claim 12 wherein at least one of the first claw closure and the second claw closure includes a carabiner.

16. The jewelry bracelet or necklace of claim 15 wherein the carabiner includes a finger latch component.

17. The jewelry bracelet or necklace of claim 12 wherein at least one of the first claw closure and the second claw closure includes a spring-activated hook and base combination.

18. A connecting clasp for a jewelry bracelet or necklace comprised of a plurality of bead strands each strand having a closed loop at opposed ends, said clasp comprising:

(a) a spring-loaded claw closure for holding a closed loop end of each bead strand for the jewelry bracelet or necklace;

(b) a cone-shaped collar for covering at least a lower end of the spring-loaded claw closure; and

(c) a base component selected from a connecting loop and a connecting bar.

19. The connecting clasp of claim 18 wherein the spring-loaded claw closure includes at least one carabiner or spring-activated hook and base combination.

20. The connecting clasp of claim 18 wherein the cone-shaped collar is spring loaded to at least partially cover the claw closure when not be lowered for connecting purposes.