Patent ID: 6481069
Filing Date: 2002-11-19
Classification: A44C,A44D,Y10T

Abstract:
A device for securing opposite ends of a piece of jewelry together comprising:a female part adapted to be attached to one end of the piece of jewelry, the female part defining a recess extending longitudinally along the female part, and a laterally extending slot at one end of the female part, the slot intersecting the recess; a pivot pin disposed on the female part within the recess and spaced from the slot; a latch mounted to the pivot pin within the recess, the latch including a hook at one end that has an outer sloping surface; a spring disposed within the recess and spaced from the slot, the spring contacting the latch opposite the hook to bias the latch and hook into a closed position within the recess; a male part adapted to be attached to the other end of the piece of jewelry, the male part releasably engageable with the female part and including a base portion and a catch attached to the base portion, the catch defining an opening receivable within the female part and adapted to engage and urge the latch into an opened position by contacting the outer sloping surface and permitting the latch to return to the closed position to secure the catch within the female part; the female part having a cross-section slightly greater than the cross-section of the male part; and, a sleeve slidably mounted to the male part and adapted to selectively cover an engagement of the male part and female part, said sleeve tapering along its length to define a smaller cross-section on the male side of the engagement and a greater cross-section on the female side of the engagement, whereby the sleeve will frictionally engage the female part to retain said sleeve over said engagement.