AND COMPANION ANIMAL CHARM COLLAR

BACKGROUND

[0001] Charm anklets, bracelets and necklaces (hereinafter collectively referenced as charm jewelry) have been an enduring fashion item for generations. European style charm jewelry, in which individual charms are releasably attached to a chain or rope, have become increasing popular since introduced in or around the 1970s. Many such brands of European style charm jewelry are now available from a number of sources, including specifically but not exclusively Biagi, Chamilia, Love-links, Novobeads, Oriana, Pandora, SimStars, Soufeel, Trollbeads and Zable.

[0002] The popularity of charm jewelry has grown to such an extent that efforts have been made to expand such jewelry to companion animals. See, for example, US Patent Application Publications 2009/0188442 and 2011/0297106. Such efforts have seen limited success as the constant actions and activities typical of most companion animals tends to result in an unremitting detachment and loss of charms with little hope of recovery as the wearer is never able to provide any guidance as to the likely location of loss.

[0003] Accordingly, a need exists for companion animal charm jewelry which is simple to use and elegant, yet resistant to detachment and loss of the charms.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0004] Figure 1 is a top view of one embodiment of a companion animal charm collar in accordance with the invention.

[0005] Figure 2 is an enlarged top view of a portion of the companion animal charm collar depicted in Figure 1 encompassing the first end portion of the rope.

[0006] Figure 3 is a further enlarged perspective view of that portion of the companion animal charm collar depicted in Figure 2 with the first end of the rope detached from the collar.

[0007] Figure 4 is a slightly different perspective view of that portion of the companion animal charm collar depicted in Figure 3. [0008] Figure 5 is a still further enlarge perspective view of a portion of that portion of the companion animal charm collar depicted in Figures 3 and 4, with a charm removed from the rope.

[0009] Figure 6 is a perspective view of the charm depicted in Figure 5.

[0010] Figure 7 is a side view of the first and second ends of another embodiment of the rope having connector halves on each end of the rope for releasable connection of the rope ends to form a continuous band.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Definitions

[0011] As utilized herein, including the claims, the term "collar" means a functional or merely fashionable animal collar comprising a strap or band configured to be worn around the neck of an animal.

[0012] As utilized herein, including the claims, the term "rope" means any axially elongated length of flexible material including specifically but not exclusively fabric, natural or synthetic fiber, leather or metal cable, cord, lashing, line, string, strapping, rope, etc.

Nomenclature

REFERENCE

NAME

No.

39 Radial Design Feature on Key ( tab )

40 Charm

48 Keyway through Charm

49 Radial Design Feature on Keyway (channel)

50 Center Mount Bead-Chain End Ring Connector

58 Channel in Center Mount Bead-Chain End Ring Connector

58a Ball Insert End of Channel

58b Ball Capture End of Channel

Construction

Companion Animal Charm Collar

A first aspect of the invention is a companion animal charm collar 10. Referring to Figures 1-5, a first embodiment of the companion animal charm collar 10 includes a collar 20, a rope 30 with both ends 30i and 302 releasably secured to the collar 20, a plurality of charms 40, and a key and keyway charm system comprising a key 32i attached proximate a first end of the rope 30i, and a center keyway 48 in each charm 40 wherein select radial alignment of a radial design feature 39 such as a radially extending tab on the key 32i and a radial design feature 49 such as a radially extending channel on the keyway 48 is required for stringing and removal of each charm 40 onto and off from the rope 30. The rope 30 preferably includes a second key 322 attached proximate the second end of the rope 302 which is similar to the first key 32i, for allowing charms 40 to be strung onto and removed from the rope 30 at both ends 30i and 302.

Referring to Figures 1-5, a second embodiment of the companion animal charm collar 10 includes a collar 20, and a rope 30 with a ball 31i on at least the first end 30i of the rope 30 configured and arranged for releasable engagement within the channel 58 of a center mount bead-chain end ring connector 50 secured to the collar 20. The rope 30 preferably includes a second ball 3l2 on the second end 302 of the rope 30 configured and arranged for releasable engagement with the channel 58 of a second center mount bead-chain end ring connector 50 secured to the collar 20 a distance from the first center mount bead-chain end ring connector 50 so as to ensure that the rope 30 must be pulled fairly taught for the ball 31i or 3I2 at one end of the rope 30i or 302 to reach the ball insert end 58a of the channel 58 in its respective center mount bead-chain end ring connector 50 when the ball 31i or 3l2 at the other end of the rope 30i or 302 is retentively engaged within the channel 58 of its respective center mount bead-chain end ring connector 50 and positioned proximate the ball capture end 58b of the channel 58.

Charm Jewelry Band

A second aspect of the invention is a charm jewelry band 11, suitable for use as a bracelet, choker or necklace. The charm jewelry band 11 is similar to the companion animal charm collar 10, except that the charm jewelry band 11 does not include a collar, and the ends

301 and 302 of the rope 30 include a mechanism 33 for releasably connecting the ends 30i and

302 to one another. Various connector mechanisms 33 are well known to those of skill in the jewelry arts including specifically but not exclusively mechanical clasps, magnetic clasps, snap fit barrel connectors, and as depicted in Figure 7 threaded barrel connectors comprising connector halves 33i and 332.

As with the companion animal charm collar 10, the charm jewelry band 11 includes a plurality of charms 40, and a key and keyway charm system comprising a key 32i attached proximate a first end of the rope 30i, and a center keyway 48 in each charm 40 wherein select radial alignment of a radial design feature 39 such as a radially extending tab on the key 32i and a radial design feature 49 such as a radially extending channel on the keyway 48 is required for stringing and removal of each charm 40 onto and off from the rope 30. The rope 30 can include a second key (not shown) attached proximate the second end of the rope 302 which is similar to the first key 32i, for allowing charms 40 to be strung onto and removed from the rope 30 at both ends 30i and 302.

Assembly

Companion Animal Charm Collar

[0013] Assembly of a companion animal charm collar 10 from the individual components includes the steps of (i) axially aligning a key 32i or 322 on one end of the rope 30, with a keyway 48 through a charm 40, (ii) rotating the axially aligned key 32i or 322 and/or charm 40 until the radial design feature 39 on the key 32i or 322 and the radial design feature 49 in the keyway 48 through the charm 40 are radially aligned, (iii) sliding the key 32i or 322 completely through the keyway 48 and releasing the charm 40 onto the rope 30, (iv) repeating steps (i)-(iii) for each charm 40 desired on the companion animal charm collar 10, (v) inserting the ball 31i on the first end 30i of the rope 30 into the channel 58 in one of the center mount bead-chain end ring connectors 58 on the collar 20 from the ball insert end 58a of the channel 58, and (vi) with the ball 31i on the first end 30i of the rope 30 pulled against the ball capture end 58b of the channel 58 in the one center mount bead-chain end ring connectors 58, inserting the other ball 312 on the second end 302 of the rope 30 into the channel 58 in the other center mount bead-chain end ring connector 58 on the collar 20 from the ball insert end 58a of that channel 58.

[0014] Once assembled, new charms 40 may be added by (A) removing one of the balls 31i or 3l2 having a key 32i or 322 on that end of the rope 30, from its channel 58 by pulling the ball 31i or 3I2 through the ball insert end 58a of the channel 58, (B) repeating steps (i)- (iii), and then (C) reinserting the removed ball 31i or 3l2 into its channel 58 from the ball insert end 58a of the channel 58.

[0015] Charms 40 may be removed by (1) removing one of the balls 31i or 3I2 having a key 32i or 322 on that end of the rope 30, from its channel 58 by pulling the ball 31i or 3I2 through the ball insert end 58a of the channel 58, (2) rotating the key 32i or 322 and/or charm 40 until the radial design feature 39 on the key 32i or 322 and the radial design feature 49 in the keyway 48 through the charm 40 are radially aligned, (3) sliding the radially aligned charm 40 off the rope 30, and then (4) reinserting the removed ball 31i or 3I2 into its channel 58 from the ball insert end 58a of the channel 58. If the charm 40 desired to be removed is not the charm 40 closest to the removed ball 31i or 3I2, steps (2) and (3) will need to be repeated for each of the intermediate charms 40, followed by performance of steps (i)-(iii) for each removed intermediate charm 40.

Charm Jewelry Band

[0016] Assembly of a charm jewelry band 11 from the individual components includes the steps of (i) axially aligning a key 32i or 322 on one end of the rope 30, with a keyway 48 through a charm 40, (ii) rotating the axially aligned key 32i or 322 and/or charm 40 until the radial design feature 39 on the key 32i or 322 and the radial design feature 49 in the keyway 48 through the charm 40 are radially aligned, (iii) sliding the key 32i or 322 completely through the keyway 48 and releasing the charm 40 onto the rope 30, (iv) repeating steps (i)- (iii) for each charm 40 desired on the charm jewelry band 11, and (v) connecting the ends 30i and 302 of the rope 30 by the attaching the connection mechanism 33 (e.g. , threadably connecting the barrel connector halves 33i and 332). [0017] Once assembled, new charms 40 may be added by (A) disconnecting the connection mechanism 33, (B) repeating steps (i)-(iii), and then (C) reconnecting the connection mechanism 33.

[0018] Charms 40 may be removed by (1) disconnecting the connection mechanism 33, (2) rotating the key 32i or 322 and/or charm 40 until the radial design feature 39 on the key 32i or 322 and the radial design feature 49 in the keyway 48 through the charm 40 are radially aligned, (3) sliding the radially aligned charm 40 off the rope 30, and then (4) reconnecting the connection mechanism 33. If the charm 40 desired to be removed is not the charm 40 closest to an end 30i or 302 of the rope 30 with a key 32i or 322, steps (2) and (3) will need to be repeated for each of the intermediate charms 40, followed by performance of steps (i)-(iii) for each removed intermediate charm 40.