CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/771,908, filed November 27, 2018, the entirety of the same is incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to bracelets, and, more particularly, relates to a clasps for a wearable bracelet.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Whether for spiritual reasons, cultural reasons, stylistic reasons, or other personal reasons, many users wear necklaces and bracelets. Many of these bracelets have personal and/or financial value to the user. To that end, ensuring the bracelet or necklace does not become inadvertently loosened or unconnected is paramount. To effectuate the same, many necklaces and bracelets (sometimes generally referred to herein as a“braclet”) have clasps disosed at one or both terminal ends. Some bracelets are formed in a continuous and permenant circle that is not operable to be disconnected. These permanently formed bracelets do not generally permit expansion and can be difficult or impossible to place on a user and remove from a user if not properly sized. Those known bracelets that have ends that disconnect are often problemtic in that they can be tedious and time-consuming to disconnect and connect. Some elderly or disabled users are actually unable to disconnect and connect said bracelets.

Some known bracelets utilize a first end of a U-shape and a second end opposing end of a circular or other enclosed shape that is operable, sized, and shaped to be selectively placed and removed over a portion of the U-shaped end. Problematically, however, these known bracelets still cause inadvertent disconnection.

Therefore, a need exists to overcome the problems with the prior art as discussed above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a bracelet clasp configuration that overcomes the hereinafore-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices and methods of this general type and that effectively and efficiently enables coupling and uncoupling of opposing ends of a bracelet.

[0001] With the foregoing and other objects in view, there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a bracelet clasp configuration having a first free end, a second free end opposing the first free end, an elongated body member spanning continuously from the first free end to the second free end, a first end retention member disposed proximal to the first free end, defining a first channel, having an upright post defining a post diameter and with an inner surface at least partially defining the first channel, and having a cantilevered locking member with a first locking member end protruding from the inner surface of the upright post, a second locking member end terminating within the first channel, and a locking member length separating the first and second locking member ends, wherein the post diameter and the locking member length collectively defining a locking length. The bracelet clasp configuration also includes a second end retention member disposed proximal to the second free end and has a sidewall defining a second channel with a diameter of a length greater than the locking length and defining an enclosed protrusion channel spatially coupled to the second channed, sized to receive the cantilevered locking member, and of a shape corresponding to a shape of the cantilevered locking member.

In accordance with a further feature of the present invention, the enclosed protrusion channel is sized to receive the cantilevered locking member in a tight configuration

In accordance with another feature, an embodiment of the present invention includes a coupled configuration along a coupling path with the cantilevered locking member disposed within the enclosed protrusion channel.

In accordance with an additional feature, an embodiment of the present invention also includes the coupled configuration having the cantilevered locking member disposed within the enclosed protrusion channel in a tight configuration, thereby preventing transverse movement of the first and second end retention members.

In accordance with another feature, an embodiment of the present invention includes the first end retention member having a secondary upright post defining, with the upright post, a U-shape of the first channel. In accordance with a further feature of the present invention, the second channel is enclosed by the sidewall of the second end retention member.

In accordance with another feature, an embodiment of the present invention includes the sidewall of the second end retention member having an upper opening and a lower opening opposing the upper opening, the upper and lower openings defining the second channel.

Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a bracelet clasp configuration, it is, nevertheless, not intended to be limited to the details shown because various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims. Additionally, well-known elements of exemplary embodiments of the invention will not be described in detail or will be omitted so as not to obscure the relevant details of the invention.

Other features that are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims. As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one of ordinary skill in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting; but rather, to provide an understandable description of the invention. While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward. The figures of the drawings are not drawn to scale.

Before the present invention is disclosed and described, it is to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. The terms“a” or“an,” as used herein, are defined as one or more than one. The term “plurality,” as used herein, is defined as two or more than two. The term“another,” as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms“including” and/or“having,” as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The term“coupled,” as used herein, is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically. The term “providing” is defined herein in its broadest sense, e.g., bringing/coming into physical existence, making available, and/or supplying to someone or something, in whole or in multiple parts at once or over a period of time. Also, for purposes of description herein, the terms“upper”,“lower”,“left,” “rear,”“right,”“front,”“vertical,”“horizon tal,” and derivatives thereof relate to the invention as oriented in the figures and is not to be construed as limiting any feature to be a particular orientation, as said orientation may be changed based on the user’s perspective of the device. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description.

As used herein, the terms“about” or“approximately” apply to all numeric values, whether or not explicitly indicated. These terms generally refer to a range of numbers that one of skill in the art would consider equivalent to the recited values (i.e., having the same function or result). In many instances these terms may include numbers that are rounded to the nearest significant figure. In this document, the term“longitudinal” should be understood to mean in a direction corresponding to an elongated direction of the bracelet, spanning to and from each opposing end of the bracelet, while the term “transverse” should be understood to mean in a direction opposite the longitudinal direction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views and which together with the detailed description below are incorporated in and form part of the specification, serve to further illustrate various embodiments and explain various principles and advantages all in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a bracelet clasp configuration in an uncoupled configuration in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the bracelet clasp configuration in FIG. 1 in a coupled configuration in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a first end retention member of a bracelet clasp configuration in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a first end retention member of a bracelet coupled to a second end retention member of the bracelet in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward. It is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms.

The present invention provides a novel and efficient bracelet clasp configuration that enables quick, efficient, and effective connection and disconnection of opposing ends of a bracelet. More specifically, and referring now to FIGS. 1-2, one embodiment of the present invention is shown in perspective views. FIGS. 1-2 show several advantageous features of the present invention, but, as will be described below, the invention can be provided in several shapes, sizes, combinations of features and components, and varying numbers and functions of the components. The first example of a bracelet clasp configuration, as shown in FIGS. 1-2, includes a braclet 100, which is preferbably, and sometimes necessarily, all of a substantially rigid material, e.g., gold, bronze, aluminum, etc., of a hardness greater than approximately 2 Mohs. In one embodiment, some or all of the bracelet components are injection molded, while in other embodiments some or all of the bracelet components are casted. The bracelet 100 may also experience post-manufacturing modifications, such as milling, welding, etc. The bracelet 100 includes a first free end 104, a second free end 106 opposing the first free end 104, and includes an elongated body member 102 spanning continuously from the first free end 104 to the second free end 106 (this is best seen in FIG. 2). The bracelet 100 also includes a second end retention member 116 that is operably configured to selectively attach and detach to and from the first free end 104. The ends 104, 116 are“free” in that they are operable to detached from an object without extraneous modification or force, e.g., welding or cutting.

The first free end 104 includes a first end retention member 108 disposed proximal to the first free end 104, i.e., at or near (within +/- 10% the overall longitudinal length) the first free end 104. The first end retention member 108 defines a first channel 110 where the second end retention member 116 will be placed while in a coupled configuration (best shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 4). With rereference to FIGS. 1-4, The first end retention member 108 may include an upright post 112 defining a post diameter 300 and with an inner surface 114 at least partially defining the first channel 110. In some emodiments, a secondary upright post 124 may define, with the upright post 112, a U- shape of the first channel 110. The inner surfaces of each of the upright posts may define the the first channel 110, which also beneficially includes an access opening for the second end retention member 116 to be inserted and removed therethrough. While the access opening is shown facing upwardly in the figures, those of skill in the art will appreciate it may facing in an opposite direction in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. The post is upright in the sense that it extends in an upwards direction. However, it may be disposed at a substantially orthogonal direction with respect to the longitudinal direction in some embodiments.

The first end retention member 108 also beneficially includes a cantilevered locking member 122 with a first locking member end 302 protruding from the inner surface 114 of the upright post 112, a second locking member end 304 terminating within the first channel 110, and a locking member length 306 separating the first and second locking member ends 302, 304. The post diameter 300 and the locking member length 306 collectively define a locking length, e.g., approximately 0.25 inches. Said another way, the locking member length 306 may be approximately 0.15 inches and the post diameter 300 may be approximately 0.1 inches.

The bracelet also includes a second end retention member 116 disposed proximal to the second free end 106 and has a sidewall 118 defining a second channel 400 with a diameter 402 of a length greater than the locking length, whereby both the post 112 and the cantilevered locking member 122 can fit within the second channel 400. The second end retention member 116 may also define an enclosed protrusion channel 120 spatially coupled to the second channed, sized to receive the cantilevered locking member 122, and of a shape corresponding to a shape of the cantilevered locking member 122. In one embodiments, the shape may be an oblong rectangular shape, but in other embodiments it may be a cylindrical shape. As such, when the ends 104, 106 are coupled together in a coupled configuration, the bracelet 100 forms an enclosed circle of a diameter sized to encircle a user’s arm or other appendage, e.g., approximately 3-5 inches. To remove the ends 104, 106, the user will push the ends 104, 106 inwardly to uncouple the ends 104, 106. As used herein, the term“wall” is intended broadly to encompass continuous structures, as well as, separate structures that are coupled together so as to form a substantially continuous external surface.

In one embodiment, the enclosed protrusion channel 120 is sized to receive the cantilevered locking member 122 in a tight configuration, i.e., either the enclosed protrusion channel 120 or the cantilevered locking member 122 is sized to be slightly larger than the other. Said another way, either the enclosed protrusion channel 120 or the cantilevered locking member 122 is sized to be approximately less than or equal to 0.1-5% the other, so they fit in a snug configuration with one another. Therefore, when in a coupled configuration (FIG. 2 and FIG. 4) along a coupling path, the the cantilevered locking member 122 disposed within the enclosed protrusion channel 120. In one embodiment, the coupled configuration may include the cantilevered locking member 122 disposed within the enclosed protrusion channel 120 in a tight configuration, thereby preventing transverse movement of the first and second end retention members 108, 116.

Futher, in one embodiment, the first end retention member 108 includes a secondary upright post 124 defining, with the upright post 112, a U-shape of the first channel 110. In additional embodiment of the present invention, the second channel 400 is enclosed by the sidewall 118 of the second end retention member 116. Moreover, the sidewall 118 of the second end retention member 116 may include an upper opening 402 and a lower opening 126 opposing the upper opening 402, the upper and lower openings 402, 126 defiing the second channel 400.

Although a specific order of executing the process steps, the order of executing the steps may be changed relative to the order shown in certain embodiments. Also, two or more steps shown in succession may be executed concurrently or with partial concurrence in some embodiments. Certain steps may also be omitted for the sake of brevity. In some embodiments, some or all of the process steps can be combined into a single process.

A bracelet with a bracelet clasp configuration has been disclosed that includes opposing ends that enable quick, efficient, and effective connection and disconnection for all users, whether disabled, elderly, or otherwise. Various modifications and additions can be made to the exemplary embodiments discussed without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. For example, while the embodiments described above refer to particular features, the scope of this disclosure also includes embodiments having different combinations of features and embodiments that do not include all of the above described features.