| WO/2006/105786 | LOCKING SYSTEM FOR JEWELLERY |
| JP2000253912 | LOCK FASTENER FOR STRAP |
| WO/1995/020336 | ADHESIVE CLOSURE IDENTIFICATION BRACELET |
| CLAIMS
1. Clasp system for personal adornments such as necklaces, bracelets, or similar, said clasp system comprising two connectable clasp parts (1, 2) which are detachably connectable one to the other through interlocking devices, each clasp part (1, 2) attaching one end of a string (10), wire or similar, characterized by the fact that said each end of a string (10), wire or similar, is rigidly fixed to the clasp part (1, 2) associated thereto, thereby producing in each end of a string (10), wire or similar a substantially plastic pre-strain; said pre- strain in one end of string, wire or similar being opposed in respect to the other end to always pre-strain the interlocking devices to the interlocked position.
2. Clasp system (1, 2) according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said clasp parts (1, 2) are rotational symmetrically designed and said interlocking devices gather axially.
3. Clasp system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the fact that each of the interlocking devices includes an external screw (4) in one clasp part system (1) and an internal screw (6) on the other part, which are screwed one in the other. 4. Clasp system according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the pre-strain is substantially torsion pre- train.
5. Clasp system according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the pre-strain is substantially produced by the plastic deformation of the string (10), wire, or similar.
6. Clasp system according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the torsion pre-strain is substantially produced by a resilient element incorporated to the clasp.
7. Clasp system, according to claim 6, characterized by the fact that said resilient element is a spring (11), in particular a helicoidal spring. |
"CLASP SYSTEM" Field of Application
The present invention relates to a clasp system for personal adornment such as necklaces, bracelets, or similar, said clasp system comprising two connectable clasp parts which are detachably connectable one to the other through interlocking devices, each clasp part attaching one end of a string, wire or similar.
Related Background Since the beginning of mankind multiple kinds of ornament are known. Amongst these ornaments are included necklaces, bracelets and other ornaments that are substantially circular. Substantially circular doesn't necessarily mean round objects, they can have the shape of polygons. They can be composed by straight parts and curves, or present any geometrical shape. These ornaments are, in their majority, provided with a clasp system so that they can be opened and positioned around a body part where it should be used such as neck, wrist, and ankle. The clasp is also used so that the ornament can be easily and quickly detached and removed from the body part where it was being used. For this purpose it was created, or we are aware of, many different kinds of clasps for those circular personal ornaments. One of the most common clasp systems, in which the present invention is based, is the initially mentioned clasp involving two connectable and detachable parts in the axial direction through an interlock device, which may be, but not necessarily, configured as screws or any other connection system to hook one with the other.
More specifically, the personal ornament per se is constituted of beads and/or any other ornament elements, which are similar to beads and made of any material and/or shape. The beads can be made with or without trespassing orifice. In the first situation, i. e., beads with trespassing orifices, through which a string is passed, the beads and/or other elements are sequentially stuck in the string. Also, several strings can be put together forming cables to constitute, for example beads or peal necklace. In the second situation, i. e, beads and/or other elements without trespassing orifice, each bead or element can be fixed through any device or way to the string and the ornament will still keep all its characteristics. Instead of passing the string through the bead, the string is fixed in each side of the item or ornament's element. In this disposition, the string gets to one side of the element and is fixed in this spot, as if it was between two parts and then fixed in the other side as if it was not cut.
In conclusion, being the beads or ornament's elements provided with orifices or not, they are always put together by a string, cable, wire or similar forming, for example, as described before, a bead or pearl necklace, or any other alternative ornament with any size or shape.
In this kind of known clasp system there is a problem, which is broadly know in the state of art, and until the present time not solved. More specifically, this problem consists in the fact that when a person is using, for example, a ornament in shape of a necklace with
the clasp system initially mentioned, the friction and the movement that occurs between the parts of the ornament, such as beads, and the skin of the user's chest and neck makes the clasp system to get increasingly- loose. The continuous relative movement and friction can also ' make the clasp system to come apart, that is, the clasp parts can detach from each other and, if the user do not realize the imminent fall of the ornament, which can be a valuable jewel, it can suffer sentimental and or monetary losses. In view of the described problem, and in a new and unexpected manner, the inventor of this present invention decided to solve this problem, which frequently occurs and is until now unsolved, proposing a clasp system to ornaments such as necklaces bracelets or similar. Summary of the Invention
The above described aim was accomplished, in a clasp system to personal ornaments, such as necklaces, bracelets or similar, said clasp system comprising two connectable clasp parts which are detachably connectable one to the other through interlocking devices, each clasp part attaching one end of a string, wire or similar, wherein each end of the string, cable or similar is rigidly fixed to the clasp part associated thereto, thereby producing in each end of a string, wire or similar a substantially plastic pre-strain, said pre-strain in one end of string, wire or similar being opposed in respect to the other end to always pre-strain the interlocking devices to the interlocked position.
In this way, when the user moves rapidly or makes abrupt
movements, or even when there is strong friction between his or her body and the ornament, the clasp parts are impelled or forced to the interlocked position; in this way, it is difficult to occur, or even completely avoided, the detachment of the clasp parts. Moreover, auxiliary protection devices against loses, such as link, bolt, or protection chains connecting the clasp parts are totally dismissed.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the clasp parts may be rotational symmetrically designed and the interlocking devices preferably gather axially.
In another preferred embodiment of the invention, each of the interlocking devices may include an external screw in one clasp part system and a internal screw at the other, constituting a so called male-female connecting device. The mentioned pre-strain can be preferably a torsion strain.
In still another embodiment of the present invention, the mentioned pre-strain may be substantially produced by the plastic deformation of the string material, cable or similar, or, alternatively, it can be substantially produced by a resilient element incorporated to the clasp, preferentially a helicoidal spring.
Brief Description of the Drawings
The grasp system such as necklaces, bracelets, or similar will be described more fully in the following based on a present preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein:
Fig 1 shows an enlarged and schematic view of a first embodiment of the clasp system of the invention, in form of an
adornment of the type of a necklace;
Fig 2 shows a detailed view of a lower portion of a closing part showing another possible embodiment of the present invention. Preferred Embodiments of the Invention
Figure 1 shows a first possible way of implementation of the clasp system according to the invention, which is meant particularly for a circular ornament, here represented by a necklace, which should be wearied around the user's neck. Obviously, the ornament could be wearied at other body parts such as ankle or wrist.
The clasp system includes two clasp parts, i. e. the first clasp part 1, or the male part, and the second clasp part 2, or the female clasp part. The clasp system is basically represented by the clasp parts
1 and 2, which have the basic form substantially cylindrical, so that they show rotations symmetry configuration across the central geometrical axis A-A.
The clasp part 1 shows an axial central salience 3, which projects form one of its terminal extremities. This central axial salience 3 is provided with an external screw 4, or also called male screw 4.
In a corresponding manner, the clasp part 2 shows a central axial recess 4, which elapses partially across the length of the clasp part
2 and which is provided with an internal screw 5. For the necklace closure, the clasp parts must be connected. It means the external screw 4 of the central axial recess 3 must have the screw threads provided with the external screw 4 of the central axial recess 5; to reach this goal, the clasp parts 1 and 2 must be
turned relatively to the other producing a perfect and firm clamp between them.
To facilitate de-turning movement or to provide a firm clap in each clasp part in an adornment, the clasp parts 1 and 2 are configured with longitudinal stripes in its external cylindrical surface. Evidently the surface may be smooth.
As it also can be seen form this figure 1, to form the necklace or ornament the clasp parts have in its ending, apart from the screwing parts, a respective trespassing orifice 8 and 9, provided at the ending part of the respective part 1 and 2.
One end of the string 10 is fixed in the part where it may or may not have an orifice or clutch. In the present embodiment, this is made through the trespassing orifice 8 in the clasp part 1, and at the same time the other ending of the string 10 is inserted in the trespassing orifice 9 of the other clasp part 2. The string 10 is rigidly pre-strained there in the clasp part 1 and 2 to it conjugated, respectively, in a way that avoids any relative movement between the string 10 and the clasp parts 1 and 2.
In any part of the string, preferably next to the clasp parts 1 and 2, is produced a first pre-strain of the string, next to the first clasp part 1, and a second pre-strain of the string, next to the second clasp part 2. Such pre-strains are substantially plastic and made at the elastic material of the string, which may be preferentially made of metal to provide the necessary elasticity and strain so that the creative conception of the present model may work. The referred pre-strains are indicated schematically by the dark areas designates with the references
Pl and P2 in each portion of the end of the string 10, next to the respectively clasp parts 1 and 2. In reality, though, in these pre-strains, the forces tend to disperse throughout the string.
It must be noted that the first pre-strain has opposite direction from the second pre-strain as it is represented by the circles provided with the arrows X and Y, respectively, suggesting that the pre-strains have opposite direction, no matter the closing direction of the clasp. As it can be seen normally, the majority of the clasp systems close turning them clockwise; on the other hand, the clasp system in accordance with the present innovation may allow the closure in other directions. To be more specific, the important issue for the device to work is that the pre-strains produced must be to the opposite direction to which the clasp device closes. In this fashion, the closing system will tend to be kept closed. When the user desires to wear an ornament and starting from the clasp parts 1 and 2 clamped one relatively to the other, or locked, he or she first turns the parts 1 and 2 in opposite directions to the closing direction, and then the pre-strain power is transferred to the string 10 and accumulated in it. After the ornament is put into place, for example, around the neck, the user then screws or interlock the clasp parts 1 and 2 one with the other, and the pre-strain power accumulated in the string is freed in the opposite direction to the previously mentioned opposite direction, and compress or forces the clamping devices. The screws 4 and 6 will always to the firmly interlocked position, acting one against the other in a way in which the clasp never is spontaneously loosed or opened unexpectedly.
With this device, the threat of unexpected opening and lost of the ornament's object is avoided in a plenty trustworthy manner.
Another embodiment of the invention is represented schematically in a small detail in figure 2. Using the same concept of the invention described with reference to figure 1, instead of pre-strains produced by the string 10, here is used a resilient element, configured in the present case as a helicoidal spring 11, which causes the same relative effect than the already described. Evidently, any relative movement between the resilient element and the sides of the clasp part 1 or 2 mustn't occur, so that the referred resilient element may work in the intended way. Further explanations are needed here about this embodiment, but a skilled in the art will be able to fully understand the working principle of the mentioned resilient element based on the description of the first form of implementation described.
Finally, it must be known that the present model is not limited to the described embodiments embodiment, but may be varied or modified within the scope of the following claims; for example, the fixing system of the beads or adornment's elements to the string may vary. With this intention it is possible to use anchoring processes, welding processes or even the manufacturing of one of the parts with a small salience, which will be fixed in the other clasp part after intercalating the pieces with a string. All the embodiments are contemplated in the spirit or scope of the invention, as defined in the following claims.