Patent ID: 6202268
Filing Date: 2001-03-20
Classification: A44C,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
An openably closed encircling item of jewelry having two juxtaposable free ends and a positive locking safety latch for use in ensuring a closing holding engagement between the free ends, said latch comprising an apertured member hingedly affixed to one of said free ends and a post member with an enlarged portion thereof being affixed to the other free end, wherein an aperture of the apertured member is sized and relatively positioned to be hingedly closely fitted over the enlarged portion of the post member when the two free ends are brought into juxtaposed proximity, wherein the apertured member further comprises movable blocking means which blocks normal entry of the enlarged portion into the aperture, wherein the blocking means comprises a spring loaded insert element positioned within the apertured member with said insert element comprising an aperture of a dimension and configuration at least equal in dimension and configuration to the aperture of the apertured member wherein a retraction control means of the latch is adapted to move the spring loaded insert element into a position to cause the aperture of the apertured member and the aperture of the insert element to become coincident whereby the post member and the enlarged portion thereof are removably insertable through said apertures and wherein retraction of the retraction control means causes the post member to be engaged with spring loading against a peripheral edge of the aperture of the insert element, thereby blocking the enlarged portion from removal from the apertures.