Abstract:
This invention is a necklace or bracelet with provisions to prevent the bunching of baubles, bangles and beads which are strung on the necklace or bracelet. Bunching is prevented by keepers which are removably attached to bands fixed at intervals on the strands of the necklaces or bracelets. Two types of keepers are disclosed, one of which has internal threads which interact with a threaded bands, and one which uses a clamshell structure to secure the keeper on a band. The keepers may have a variety of shapes for decorative effects, such as cylindrical, spherical, cubical, or pyramid-shaped.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
         [0001]    Not Applicable.  
         STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
         [0002]    Not Applicable.  
           [0003]    Reference to “Microfiche appendix.” 
           [0004]    Not Applicable.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0006]    This invention pertains to necklaces and bracelets with decorative baubles, bangles, and beads.  
           [0007]    2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 37 CFR 1.98  
           [0008]    A popular type of necklace includes a flexible strand to which a number of beads are retained by being strung on the strand a lumen in the bead or a loop attached to the bead. Beads often are purely decorative and come in a variety of colors and shapes and often have embedded decorative elements such as stones. In addition, beads often have symbolic meaning to the wearer and represent descendents or important events. Necklaces having a plurality of beads often suffer from “bunching”, the tendency of all of the beads to collect in a single group at the bottom of the necklace rather than remain in the desirable more even distribution about the length of the necklace. The invention of this patent application prevents bunching.  
           [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,983,716 discloses a jewelry lock in which the ends of strand have attached extensions. The extensions may be secured by a jewelry lock having the external shape of a bead. It includes two hinged hemispheric cups with notches which accommodate hitches attached to the ends of a bead chain, thereby securing the ends.  
           [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,530,221 discloses a necklace attachment for shortening the length of a string of pearls. The attachment engulfs and attaches together two pearls which are in adjacent portions of a strand of pearls. Another embodiment engulfs one pearl and may be used to attach decorative elements to the strand.  
           [0011]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,562,704 discloses a latch for a chain having a male and female element. Removable designer elements are strung over the compressed male element and are retained by the female element and uncompressed male element. There are no provisions for preventing the movement of elements on the chain.  
           [0012]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,907,322 discloses a pearl necklace with a stainless steel wire which is secured by a retainer having a setscrew. The pearls are separated by elastic rings.  
           [0013]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,279,132 discloses a holding device which prevents the movement of a body adornment suspended from a chain. This avoids the tendency of the clasp to walk-around or creep from the back to the front of the wearer&#39;s body. The adornment is affixed to the wearer&#39;s skin or clothing using a double-sided adhesive, spray adhesive, or brush on adhesive.  
           [0014]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,449,810 discloses a stopper for jewelry strands. The stopper is strung on one or two strands and secured in place by two rubber rings, one above and one below the strand or strands. The stopper is used to adjust the length of a flexible strand.  
           [0015]    None of the discovered prior art provides the advantages of the present invention, that of decorative keepers which retain beads on a necklace in a desirable distribution and prevent bunching.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0016]    A necklace comprising a strand having two ends and a hook component attached to each end of the strand, the hook components capable of interaction with reversible attachment of the ends together. At least one band is fixedly attached to the strand, two or more beads, each bead having a bore of diameter greater than the diameter of the band and greater than the diameter of the hook component attached to one end of the strand, thereby allowing the stringing of the beads on the strand. Finally, there is at least one keeper having an outside diameter greater than the bore of the bead, the keeper capable of interacting with the band with reversible attachment of the band and keeper, thereby restricting the movement of the beads on the strand.  
           [0017]    The objective of this invention is to provide a necklace with beads and keepers in which the beads do not bunch.  
           [0018]    Another objective of this invention is to provide a necklace with beads and removable keepers so the distribution of the beads on the necklace can be modified by the necklace wearer.  
           [0019]    Another objective of this invention is to provide a necklace with beads and keepers with a threaded keeper or a hinged keeper.  
           [0020]    Another objective of this invention is to provide a necklace with beads and keepers with keepers in decorative shapes which add to the decorative effect of the necklace.  
           [0021]    Another objective of this invention is to provide a necklace with beads and keepers with keepers of cylindrical, spherical, cubical or pyramid shapes.  
           [0022]    A final objective is to provide a necklace with beads and keepers which can be manufactured inexpensively and without adverse effects on the environment. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING  
       [0023]    [0023]FIG. 1 is a plan view of the necklace of this invention.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the threaded keeper.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 3A is a perspective view of the hinged keeper in the open position.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 3B is a plan view of the hinged keeper in the closed position.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 4 is a plan view of the necklace with the keepers and beads in cross section taken along the plane of the necklace.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 5 shows the necklace without beads and without keepers.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 6A is a front view of a spherical threaded keeper.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 6B is a side view of a spherical threaded keeper.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 7A is a front view of a spherical hinged keeper.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 7B is a side view of a spherical hinged keeper.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 8A is a front view of a cubical threaded keeper.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 8B is a side view of a cubical threaded keeper.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 9A is a front view of a cubical hinged keeper.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 9B is a side view of a cubical hinged keeper.  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 10A is a front view of a pyramid-shaped threaded keeper.  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 10B is a side view of a pyramid-shaped threaded keeper.  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 11A is a front view of a pyramid-shaped hinged keeper.  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 11B is a side view of a pyramid-shaped hinged keeper.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0041]    In this patent application body adornments such as necklaces, bracelets, anklets, waist chains are termed “necklaces”. Flexible chains, wire cables, bands, filaments, cords, strings, which are a component of the necklaces are termed “strands”. Baubles, bangles, pendants, trinkets, and beads which are strung on a strand are termed “beads”.  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 1 shows a necklace  10  of this invention. The ends of the strand  60  may be connected by the interaction of a loop connector  12  with a hook connector  15 . The loop connector  12  is comprised of a cylindrical loop threaded end  13  which is fixed to a first end  62  of the strand  60 . A loop connector loop  14  is connected to the loop threaded end  13 . Loop connector threads  11  are cut into the surface of the loop threaded end  13 . The loop connector  12  outer diameter  22  is small enough to allow passage of the threaded connector  30  bore (not visible in FIG. 1) and bead  70  bore (not visible in FIG. 1) over the loop connector  12 , thereby allowing stringing of the threaded keeper  30  and bead  70  over the strand  60 . The hook connector  15  is comprised of a hook threaded end  16  which is fixed to a second end  64  of the strand  60 . A hook connector ring  17  is attached to the hook threaded end  16 . A hook connector hook  18  is connected to the hook connector ring  17 . Visible on the hook connector hook  18  is the movable hook connector latch  19  and the hook connector latch handle  20 . Any suitable connectors which enable the connection of the first and second ends of the strand may be used provided that at least one connector has a diameter small enough to allow the passage over that connector of beads  70  and threaded keepers  30 .  
         [0043]    Beads  70  having a cylindrical bore (not visible in FIG. 1) are strung on the strand  60  and are free to slide back and forth on the strand. The movement of beads  70  is restrained by a threaded keeper  30  and a hinged keeper  40 . The keepers are removably fixed on bands (not visible in FIG. 1) which are fixedly attached to the strand  60 .  
         [0044]    The function of the threaded keeper  30  and hinged keeper  40  is to restrain the free movement of the beads  70  on the strand  60 , thereby preventing bunching and keeping the beads in a desirable distribution on the necklace.  
         [0045]    The threaded keeper  30  has a distinctive ornamental pattern  38  on the outer surface. The hinged keeper  40  has a distinctive ornamental pattern  48  on the outer surface which is easily distinguished from the ornamental pattern  38  of the threaded keeper  30 . The distinct ornamental patterns allow the necklace wearer to easily distinguish between the threaded and hinged keepers when the necklace is being assembled or in use.  
         [0046]    The beads  70  have a cylindrical bore (not visible in FIG. 1) which is large enough to pass over the loop connector  12 . Any desirable number and type of beads may be used. Any desirable number of bands can be fixed on the strand and any desired number of threaded keepers and or hinged keepers may be used with the necklace.  
         [0047]    [0047]FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the threaded keeper  30  taken along line  2 - 2  in FIG. 1. Visible in FIG. 2 is the threaded keeper bore  32  which is of adequate size to pass over a threaded band (not visible in FIG. 2) and over at least one of the connectors, ( 12  and  15  in FIG. 1). The interior of the bore  32  is threaded  34  with a thread capable of interaction with and passage over the threaded keeper (not visible in FIG. 2) and the threaded portion of at least one of the connectors by rotation. Alternatively, the threaded keeper is mounted on and retained by the threaded band or threaded portion of at least one of the connectors when it is not rotated. The threaded keeper decoration  38  in the example in FIG. 2 is grooves which encompass the circumference of the cylindrical threaded connector  30 . The outer dimension, in this example, the diameter of the threaded keeper  36 , is larger than the bore of the beads (not shown in FIG. 2). Fixation of the threaded keeper  30  on a threaded band therefore restricts the movement of the beads on the strand and prevents bunching of the beads on the strand.  
         [0048]    Although the threaded keeper  30  shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is cylindrical, threaded keepers may be spherical, or have the shape of any geometric solid having three dimensions, providing the threaded bore and outer dimension has the characteristics described above.  
         [0049]    [0049]FIG. 3A is a perspective view of the hinged keeper  40  in the open position. The hinged keeper  40  is comprised of a left shell  42  and a right shell  43  which are linked together by a hinge  44 . The left shell  42  is comprised of a front wall  47  having a hemispheric front wall notch  41 , a back wall  52  having a hemispheric back wall notch  51 , a web  49  connecting the front wall  47  and back wall  52 , and a top wall  50  which covers the U-shaped structure formed by the ends of the front wall  47 , web  49  and back wall  52 . The hemispheric front and back wall notches  41  and  51 , respectively, have a diameter slightly larger than one half the diameter of the strand. The right shell  43  is a mirror image of left shell  42  except that the right shell has a friction latch  45  connected to the right shell top wall. The friction latch  45  interacts with the left shell top wall  50  when the hinged keeper  40  is in the closed position and reversibly retains the hinged keeper  40  in the closed position. The hinged keeper decoration element  48  on the outer surface of the hinged keeper is shown in FIG. 3A.  
         [0050]    [0050]FIG. 3B is a plan view of the hinged keeper  40  in the closed position. Visible in FIG. 3B is the left shell  42 , hinge  44 , right shell  43 , and hinged keeper decoration element  48 . The hinged keeper  40  is retained in the closed position by the friction latch  45 . The user can open the closed hinged keeper by inserting two fingernails into the junction between the left shell and right shell at the friction latch. When the hinged keeper is in the closed position, the left shell hemispheric front wall notch  41  and the right shell hemispheric front wall notch  52  together form a hinged keeper bore  53  having a diameter which is slightly larger than the diameter of the strand but smaller than the diameter of a band (not shown in FIG. 3B). The outer dimension of the hinged keeper, in this example, the diameter of the hinged keeper when closed  46 , is larger than the bore of the beads (not shown in FIG. 2). Closure of the hinged keeper  40  on a band, threaded or unthreaded, which is attached to a strand, therefore restricts the movement of beads on the strand and prevents bunching of the beads.  
         [0051]    Although the hinged keeper  40  shown in FIGS. 1, 3A and  3 B is cylindrical, hinged keepers may be spherical, or have the shape of any geometric solid having three dimensions, providing bore and outer dimension have the characteristics described above.  
         [0052]    [0052]FIG. 4 is a plan view of the necklace with the keepers and beads in cross section taken along the plane of the necklace. Visible in FIG. 4 are the strand  60 , loop connector  12 , and hook connector  15 . A threaded band  71  having threads  72  on the outer surface is shown fixed to the strand  60 . The diameter and thread dimensions of the threaded band  70  are suitable for the threaded fixation of the threaded keeper  30  by its threads  34 . The bore  32  of the threaded keeper  30  is large enough to enable the threaded keeper to be moved over the threaded band  71  by rotation of the threaded keeper  30 . The bore  32  of the threaded keeper  30  is large enough to allow passage of the threaded keeper  30  over an unthreaded band  76 . A hinged keeper  40  is shown in FIG. 4 in the closed position closed over an unthreaded keeper  76 . The bore  53  of the hinged keeper  40  is small enough to prevent movement of the hinged keeper  40  when the hinged keeper  40  is closed over an unthreaded band  76 . Also shown in FIG. 4 are beads  70  which are strung on the strand  60 . The bores  78  of the beads  70  are large enough to allow movement of the beads  70  over at least one of the connectors  12  and  15 , over the threaded bands  71 , and over the unthreaded bands  76 . The bores  78  of the beads  70  are not large enough to allow passage over the threaded keepers  30  and hinged keepers  40  when they are attached to the threaded bands  71  and unthreaded bands  76 , respectively.  
         [0053]    [0053]FIG. 5 shows the necklace without beads and without keepers. Visible in FIG. 5 are the strand  60 , loop connector  12 , and hook connector  15 . A threaded band  71  having threads  72  on the outer surface is shown fixed to the strand  60 . The diameter and thread dimensions of the threaded band  70  are suitable for the threaded fixation of the threaded keeper  30  by its threads  34 . The bore  32  of the threaded keeper is large enough to pass over the threaded keeper if the threaded keeper is manually rotated against the threaded band. A threaded keeper may be moved over a threaded band by rotating the threaded keeper against a threaded band thereby engaging the band and keeper threads and then disengaging the band and keeper threads. An unthreaded band  76  is shown fixed to the strand. The bore  53  of the hinged keeper is smaller than the diameter of the band. A hinged keeper  40  may be removably fixed to either an unthreaded or threaded band. A band, threaded or unthreaded, is fixed to the strand preferably by compression on the strand, by interaction with the links of a chain, or by adhesive, or any other suitable means of fixation of a band on a strand.  
         [0054]    The diameter the threaded band is larger than the bore of the threaded and hinged keepers, thus preventing the movement of a threaded keeper past a threaded band unless the threaded keeper is rotated into engagement of the band and keeper threads, and preventing the movement of a closed hinged keeper past a threaded band. The diameter of an unthreaded band is large enough to prevent the movement of a closed hinged keeper past an unthreaded band but small enough to allow the movement of a threaded keeper past the unthreaded band.  
         [0055]    [0055]FIG. 6A is a front view of a spherical threaded keeper  100 . The threaded keeper bore  132  is oriented at either end of the front view of the spherical threaded keeper  100 .  
         [0056]    [0056]FIG. 6B is a side view of a spherical threaded keeper  100 . The bore  132  is visible in the side of the spherical threaded keeper  100 .  
         [0057]    [0057]FIG. 7A is a front view of a spherical hinged keeper  200 . The hinged keeper bore  253  is oriented at either end of the front view of the spherical threaded keeper  200 . The intersection  290  between the upper and lower shells is shown in FIG. 7A.  
         [0058]    [0058]FIG. 7B is a side view of a spherical hinged keeper  200 . The bore  253  is visible between the upper and lower shells and the intersection  290  between the upper and lower shells and the hinge  644  connecting the upper and lower shells are shown in FIG. 7B.  
         [0059]    [0059]FIG. 8A is a front view of a cubical threaded keeper  300 . The threaded keeper bore  332  is oriented at either end of the front view of the spherical threaded keeper  300 .  
         [0060]    [0060]FIG. 8B is a side view of a cubical threaded keeper  300 . The bore  332  is visible in the side of the cubical threaded keeper  300 .  
         [0061]    [0061]FIG. 9A is a front view of a cubical hinged keeper  400 . The hinged keeper bore  453  is oriented at either end of the front view of the spherical threaded keeper  400 . The intersection  490  between the upper and lower shells is shown in FIG. 9A.  
         [0062]    [0062]FIG. 9B is a side view of a cubical hinged keeper  400 . The bore  453  is visible between the upper and lower shells and the intersection  490  between the upper and lower shells shells and the hinge  444  connecting the upper and lower shells are shown in FIG. 9B.  
         [0063]    [0063]FIG. 10A is a front view of a pyramid-shaped threaded keeper  500 . The threaded keeper bore  532  is oriented at either end of the front view of the pyramid-shaped threaded keeper  500 .  
         [0064]    [0064]FIG. 10B is a side view of a pyramid-shaped threaded keeper  500 . The bore  532  is visible in the side of the pyramid-shaped threaded keeper  500 .  
         [0065]    [0065]FIG. 11A is a front view of a pyramid-shaped hinged keeper  600 . The hinged keeper bore  653  is oriented at either end of the front view of the pyramid-shaped threaded keeper  600 .  
         [0066]    [0066]FIG. 11B is a side view of a pyramid-shaped hinged keeper  600 . The bore  653  is visible between the upper and lower shells and the intersection  690  between the upper and lower shells and the hinge  644  connecting the upper and lower shells are shown in FIG. 7B.  
         [0067]    In use, the wearer strings beads and one or more threaded keepers on a strand having one or more threaded bands. The order of the beads and keepers is chosen in order to provide the desired distribution of beads on the necklace. The use of a hinged keeper provides additional flexibility for the wearer, as the hinged connector can be attached after the beads and the threaded keeper have been strung. The arrangement of beads and keepers may be altered by simply restringing the components on the strand.  
         [0068]    Any suitable strong, flexible material may be used for the strand, or rigid material may be used in the form of a chain. A preferred material of construction is silver. Other suitable materials include bronze, steel, copper, plastic, and silk. Any suitable strong, hard material may be used for construction of the bands. A preferred material of construction is silver. Other suitable materials include stainless steel, copper, and plastic. Any suitable strong, hard material may be used for the keepers. A preferred material of construction is silver. Other suitable materials include bronze, steel, copper, and plastic.  
         [0069]    It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the examples and embodiments described herein are by way of illustration and not of limitation, and that other examples may be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, as set forth in the appended claims.