Jewelry clasp

A clasp includes releasibly interconnectible first and second clasp members. The first clasp member includes an outwardly extending lock member. The second clasp member includes an inner tubular member slidably mounted in an outer tubular member. A lock member receiver is formed on the inner tubular member and, in a normal biased position of the inner tubular member, closes an aperture formed in a side wall of the outer tubular member to lockingly engage the lock member inserted through the aperture to join the first and second clasp members together. At least one and preferably a pair of diametrically opposed slots or grooves extend axially from one end of the inner tubular member and engage a pin mounted diametrically across the outer tubular member or projections formed on the outer tubular member, respectively, for guiding and limiting the sliding movement of the inner tubular member within the outer tubular member. Alternately, tabs are formed in the inner tubular member and are deformable into the slots or grooves. An end cap is fixed to an end of the inner tubular member normally extending outward from one end of the outer tubular member. Depression of the end cap causes sliding movement of the inner tubular member in one direction resulting in the lock member receiver opening the aperture in the outer tubular member to enable the lock member to be separated from the outer tubular member or, alternately, to be inserted into the outer tubular member.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates, in general, to clasps or fasteners for 
releasibly securing two elements together, and specifically, to clasps for 
securing the ends of jewelry, such as necklaces, bracelets, watch bands, 
etc. together. 
2. Description of the Art 
Clasps are used to secure two elements, such as the ends of jewelry, for 
example, necklaces, bracelets, watch bands etc., together around the neck, 
arm, etc., of a user. Typically, one clasp member is connected to one end 
of the piece of jewelry and includes a movable member which selectively 
moves between open and closed positions to receive a mating clasp member 
attached to the other end of the piece of jewelry. 
A typical clasp previously created by the present inventor is shown in 
FIGS. 1 and 2. This clasp 10 includes a hollow, outer tubular member 12 
having a loop 14 connected to a flange 15 extending outward from a side 
wall of the tubular member 12 which is attached by a pin or other fastener 
means, not shown, to one end of a bracelet, necklace, etc. An aperture 16 
is formed in the side wall of the tubular member 12 intermediate the 
opposed ends thereof and opens to the interior of the tubular member. 
A planar member 18 is slidably mounted in the tubular member 12. An 
irregularly shaped opening 20 is formed in the planar member 18 leaving an 
arm 22 which extends axially along one side of the planar member 18 in the 
direction of movement of the planar member 18. The end of the arm 22 is 
spaced from an opposed portion of the planar member 18. A disk 24 is 
soldered onto one end of the planar member 18 to form a seat for a coil 
spring 26 which is disposed within the tubular member 12 between the disk 
24 and another disk 25 which is press fit within an end cup 28 affixed to 
one end of the tubular member 12 after the spring 26 has been inserted 
into the tubular member 12. 
The coil spring 26 biases the planar member 18 toward the opposite end 32 
of the tubular member 12. A C-ring 30 and a split ring 31 are fixedly 
mounted in a spaced apart manner within the tubular member 12 to limit the 
axial movement of the planar member 18 toward the end 32 of the tubular 
member 12 and, in the case of the split ring 31, to also limit the angular 
movement of the planar member 18 within the tubular member 12. 
In a normal position shown in FIG. 2, the coil spring 26 biases the planar 
member 18 such that one end 34 of the planar member 18 extends outward 
beyond the end 32 of the tubular member 12 where the end 34 of the planar 
member 18 is fixedly joined to an end cap 36. Also, in this normal 
position, the arm 22 on the planar member 18 extends across the aperture 
16 in the tubular member 12. Depression of the end cap 36 to the right, as 
viewed in the orientation shown in FIG. 2, slidably urges the planar 
member 18 to the right against the coil spring 26 until the arm 22 on the 
planar member 18 is spaced from the aperture 16. This opens the aperture 
16 for insertion or removal of a latch member 38, shown in FIG. 1, which 
is typically in the form of an arch-shaped member mounted on a mating 
clasp member 40 attached to the other end of the piece of jewelry. 
After the latch member 38 is inserted through the aperture 16 in the outer 
tubular member 12, subsequent release of the end cap 36 enables the coil 
spring 26 to urge the planar member 18 to the left, as viewed in FIG. 2, 
until the arm 22 passes interiorly through the latch member 38 and across 
the aperture 16 in the tubular member 12 to fixedly connect the tubular 
member 12 to the mating clasp member 40. Further, decorative elements 37 
may be mounted in the end cup 28 and the end cap 36. 
While this clasp 10 securely joins the ends of a bracelet, necklace, etc., 
together, it requires time consuming labor to properly position the C-ring 
30 and the split ring 31 at the proper position inside of the tubular 
member 12. In addition, the soldering of the circular end cap 36 to one 
end 34 of the planar member 18 forms a relatively weak joint between these 
two components which is susceptible to breakage. Another weak point is the 
soldered connection between the end of the relatively thin planar member 
18 and the disk 24. 
The same problems confront another prior art clasp which is partially shown 
in FIG. 17. This prior art clasp is substantially the same as the prior 
art clasp described above and shown in FIG. 1 with two exceptions. In this 
clasp, the planar member 18 lacks an arm 22. The latch feature is provided 
by an arcuate member 110 which is secured by soldering, etc., to the 
bottom edge of the first end of the planar member 18 adjacent to the disk 
24. The arcuate member 110 has side edge portions which extend outwardly 
from opposite sides of the planar member 18 and slidably engage a latch 
member 111 formed on the first clasp member 40. The latch member 111 is 
formed of first and second, inverted, L-shaped members 112 and 114, each 
having a first leg 116 attached to and extending outwardly from one 
surface of the clasp member 40. An inwardly extending leg 118 extends 
generally perpendicular from the outer end of the first leg 116 and 
extends toward but is spaced from the second leg 118 of the opposite 
L-shaped member 112 or 114. The L-shaped members 112 and 114 form an 
opening therebetween through which the arcuate member 110 on the planar 
member 18 slidably extends, in the same manner as described above, to 
releasably connect the clasp member 40 to the tubular member 12 in which 
the planar member 18 is mounted. 
Thus, it would be desirable to provide a clasp which has a strong 
connection between its components and which requires less labor to 
assemble due to a simplified construction and fewer parts. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention is a clasp for releasibly securing two movable 
members, such as the opposed ends of a piece of jewelry together. 
The present clasp includes first and second releasibly interconnectible 
clasp members. The first clasp member has a lock member extending outward 
therefrom. The second clasp member is in the form of a hollows outer 
tubular member having a side wall extending between first and second 
opposed ends. An aperture is formed in the side wall between the first and 
second ends for slidably receiving the lock member of the first clasp 
member therethrough. 
An inner tubular member is slidably mounted in the outer tubular member and 
has first and second opposed ends. A lock member receiving means is 
integrally formed on the inner tubular member for releasingly receiving 
the lock member therein. In one embodiment, the lock member comprises a 
ring having an aperture, and the lock member receiving means is in the 
form of a lock arm integrally formed in the inner tubular member. One end 
of the lock arm is spaced from an adjacent intermediate portion of the 
inner tubular member by a gap at least as wide as the width of the 
aperture in the outer tubular member. 
In another embodiment, the lock member comprises a spherical ball mounted 
on a smaller diameter or width stem attached to the first clasp member. 
The lock member receiving means, in this embodiment, has a keyhole slot 
formed therein with an enlarged diameter first end and a narrower slot 
extending from the first end for slidably receiving the stem on the first 
class member. In yet another embodiment, a polygonal-shaped member is 
mounted on a stem attached to the first clasp member. The lock member 
receiving means on the inner tubular member has an aperture formed 
complimentary to the shape of the polygonal member and a narrow slot 
extending therefrom for receiving the stem on the lock member attached to 
the first clasp member. 
An end cup is fixedly mounted or integrally formed on the first end of the 
outer tubular member. A biasing means is disposed in the outer tubular 
member and seated between a disk press fit in the end cup at the juncture 
of the end cup and one end of the outer tubular member and the first end 
of the inner tubular member. Alternately, the first end of the outer 
tubular member or the first end cup is closed to form a seat for one end 
of the biasing means. The biasing means biases the inner tubular member 
toward the second end of the outer tubular member to normally dispose the 
second end of the inner tubular member exteriorly outward from the second 
end of the outer tubular member and, at the same time, to normally 
position the lock member receiving means on the inner tubular member 
across the aperture in the outer tubular member. An end cap is fixedly 
secured to the second end of the inner tubular member exteriorly of the 
second end of the outer tubular member. 
Guide means are formed on the inner and outer tubular members and coact for 
guiding the sliding movement of the inner tubular member between a first, 
normal position in which the lock arm or the narrow slot portion of the 
lock member receiving means extends across the aperture in the side wall 
of the outer tubular member and engages the lock member on the first clasp 
member to securely interconnect the first and second clasp members 
together and a second position, upon movement of the end cap toward the 
second end of the outer tubular member, in which the opening adjacent the 
lock arm or the enlarged end portion of the lock member receiving means is 
aligned with the aperture to enable removal of the lock member on the 
first clasp member from the second clasp member or the insertion of the 
lock member through the aperture in the second clasp member. 
Generally, the guide means includes at least one slot formed in and 
extending longitudinally from the second end of the inner tubular member 
and at least one pin mounted in a side wall of the outer tubular member 
and extending diametrically across the hollow bore in the outer tubular 
member to slidably engage the at least one slot in the inner tubular 
member. 
In one embodiment, two diametrically opposed slots are formed on the second 
end of the inner tubular member. A single long pin is mounted across the 
second end of the outer tubular member or in a position spaced from the 
second end of the outer tubular member and extends through and across the 
diameter of the outer tubular member to engage the slots in the inner 
tubular member. Alternately, two shorter length pins are mounted in 
opposite sides of the side wall of the outer tubular member and extend 
co-linearly inward, with each pin engaging one of the slots in the inner 
tubular member. In another embodiment, a pair of opposed projections are 
formed in the side wall of the outer tubular member and extend inwardly 
into the interior of the outer tubular member to engage the slots or, 
preferably, a pair of recessed grooves formed in the inner tubular member. 
Finally, various decorative elements, such as precious or semi-precious 
stones or other ornamentation, may be mounted on the end cap and the end 
cup for a pleasing, aesthetic appearance to the clasp consistent with the 
article, such as a piece of jewelry, on which the clasp is mounted. 
In another embodiment, the first end of the outer tubular member is closed 
by means of a separate disk press fit into the first end or by having the 
first end of the outer tubular member integrally formed in a closed manner 
with the side wall of the outer tubular member. The closed end acts as a 
seat for the biasing spring which is inserted into the outer tubular 
member and is seated between the closed first end and one end of the inner 
tubular member. The guide means may be in the form of one or more slots or 
recess grooves formed in the second end of the inner tubular member. At 
least one and preferably a pair of tabs are movably formed in the second 
end of the outer tubular member and are deformable radially inward into 
engagement with one slot or groove in the inner tubular member to control 
the sliding movement of the inner tubular member within the outer tubular 
member as well as to limit the outward extension of the second end of the 
inner tubular member from the second end of the outer tubular member. 
The present clasp overcomes certain problems encountered with previously 
devised clasps. The present clasp is of simplified construction thereby 
requiring less time and labor to assemble the clasp. Such simplified 
construction and the use of fewer parts and a more secure and stronger 
connection between the various components of the clasp provide a more 
rugged structure which increases the reliable long term use of the clasp. 
The stronger connection results from the use of a tubular inner member 
which has a large surface area at its ends for connection to the end cap 
and the press fit disk. In addition, the present clasp is extremely easy 
to grasp and operate through a natural position and movement of the user's 
thumb and index finger. At the same time, the clasp provides a high 
locking action which eliminates the need for a safety chain frequently 
employed with jewelry clasps. The clasp can also be embellished with 
decorative elements to integrate it with the article, such as a piece of 
jewelry, on which it is mounted.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Referring now to the drawings, and to FIGS. 3 and 4 in particular, there is 
depicted one embodiment of a clasp 50 constructed in accordance of the 
teachings of the present invention. Although the present clasp 50 is 
described hereafter in conjunction with a piece of jewelry, such as a 
necklace, bracelet, watch band, etc., it will be understood that the clasp 
50 has many other applications and can be used wherever two elements are 
to be releasibly connected such as a purse flap, belt buckle, coat pocket 
flap, to name a few. 
In general, the clasp 50 is formed of first and second clasp members 52 and 
54, respectively, which are releasibly interconnectible to secure opposite 
ends of a piece of jewelry, such as a necklace, bracelet, etc., not shown, 
together. 
The first clasp member 52 is in the form of an arcuate or semi-circular 
shaped member having a lock member in the form of an arch-shaped lock ring 
53 mounted on an interior surface 56. The lock ring 53 is in the form of a 
loop or ring having an aperture 58 formed therein. The lock ring 53 is 
soldered, welded or otherwise fixedly secured to the first clasp member 
52. A joining member 60 in the form of a tube, pin, etc., is mounted to 
the exterior surface of the first clasp member 52 for receiving a pin or 
other suitable fastener for attaching the first clasp member 52 to one end 
of a piece of jewelry, not shown. 
The second clasp member 54 includes an outer tubular member 64 having a 
generally circular cross section and a hollow interior bore extending 
completely therethrough. The outer tubular member 64 is formed with an end 
cup 66 having a first end 67, which end cup 66 is flared outward to a 
slightly larger diameter than the remaining cross section or diameter of 
the outer tubular member 64. A second end 68 of the outer tubular member 
64 is opposed from the first end 67. 
An arcuate shaped aperture 70 is formed through a side wall 72 of the outer 
tubular member 64 at a predetermined intermediate position between the 
first and second ends 67 and 68 thereof. The aperture 70 opens to the 
hollow interior of the outer tubular member 64. 
A joining member 74 is secured to a planar flange 76 attached to and 
extending radially outward from the side wall 72 of the outer tubular 
member 64. The joining member 74, which may be in the form of a tube, pin, 
etc., is adapted to receive a pin or other suitable fastener for attaching 
the second clasp member 54 to one end of a piece of jewelry, not shown. 
Further, the flange 76 acts as a guide to align the first and second clasp 
members 52 and 54 during interconnection. 
An inner tubular member or slider 80, shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 
10 is slidably mounted within the outer tubular member 64. The inner 
tubular member 80 has a generally circular cross section with an O.D. 
slightly smaller than the I.D. of the outer tubular member 64 so as to be 
freely slidable through the outer tubular member 64 as described 
hereafter. The inner tubular member 80 is formed with first and second 
opposed ends 82 and 84, respectively. A generally U-shaped opening or 
notch 86 is formed in the side wall of the inner tubular member 80, 
generally adjacent to the first end 82 thereof, and forms a lock arm 88 
which extends axially and integrally from the first end 82 toward the 
second end 84 of the inner tubular member 80. The lock arm 88 constitutes 
a lock member receiving means. The outer free end 90 of the lock arm 88 is 
spaced from an adjacent edge 87 of the side wall 72 of the inner tubular 
member 80 surrounding the notch 86 by a distance or gap at least as large 
as the width of the aperture 70 in the outer tubular member 64. For 
additional strength, the lock arm 88 is reinforced by a short length of 
half round wire 89 which is soldered to the interior side of the lock arm 
88 as shown in FIG. 5. 
The first end 82 of the inner tubular member 80 is closed by an end wall to 
form a solid exterior surface, as shown in FIG. 3. The first end 82 of the 
inner tubular member 80 acts as a seat for a biasing means 92, preferably 
in the form of a coil spring, which is disposed within the outer tubular 
member 64. A stop or disk 94 is press fit or otherwise fixedly mounted in 
the first end 67 of the outer tubular member 64 at a shoulder between the 
enlarged end cup 66 and the adjoining side wall 72 of the outer tubular 
member 64 to form another seat for the biasing spring 92. A decorative 
element 96, such as a precious or semi-precious stone, etc., may be 
mounted by adhesive or other suitable means in the first end cup 66 
adjacent to or on the disk 94. 
The opposite second end 84 of the inner tubular member 80 is fixedly 
connected by suitable means, such as by soldering, welding, etc., to a 
solid end 97 of an end cap 98. As shown in FIGS. 4, 8 and 9, the end cap 
98 has a hollow interior 99 extending from the solid end 97 to an opposed 
open end. The end cap 98 is disposed exteriorly of and spaced from the 
second end 68 of the outer tubular member 64 when the inner and outer 
tubular members 80 and 64 are in their normal position, as described 
hereafter. Another decorative element 100 may be fixedly mounted by 
adhesive or other suitable means in the hollow interior 99 of the end cap 
98, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 8 and 9. 
Alternately, as shown in FIG. 14 and described hereafter, the end cap 98 
may be formed of a thin, planar disk. 
In an alternate embodiment shown in FIG. 12, the lock member 120 attached 
to the first clasp member 52 is in the form of a spherical ball 122 which 
is mounted on a smaller diameter or cross-section stem 124 attached to the 
first clasp member 52 by soldering or other suitable means. An aperture 
126 slightly larger than the diameter of the spherical ball 122 is formed 
in the side wall 72 of the outer tubular member 64 for receiving the 
spherical ball 122 therein. 
The inner tubular member 80 is formed substantially the same as that 
described above and shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 except that the lock member 
receiving means is in the form of a keyhole slot 128 having an enlarged 
generally circular-shaped aperture 130 at a first end and a narrower slot 
132 extending longitudinally therefrom toward the first end 82 of the 
inner tubular member 80. The circular aperture 130 is sized so as to 
slidably receive the spherical ball 122 when the first clasp member 52 is 
engaged with the outer tubular member 64 and the spherical ball 122 is 
inserted through the aperture 126 in the outer tubular member 64 and the 
inner tubular member 80 is biased toward the first end 66 of the outer 
tubular member 64 as described above. Release of the inner tubular member 
80 will cause the slot 132 in the inner tubular member 80 to slide toward 
the second end 68 of the outer tubular member 64 to engage the stem 124 on 
the lock member 120 mounted on the first clasp member 52 and retain the 
first clasp member 52 in engagement with the outer tubular member 64. 
Another variation on the lock member and lock member receiving means is 
shown in FIG. 13. In this embodiment, the lock member 136 includes a 
polygonal-shaped, slightly arcuate member 138 which may have a square or 
rectangular cross-section. The polygonal member 138 is mounted on a narrow 
width stem 140 attached to the first clasp member 52. The aperture 142 
formed in the side wall 72 of the outer tubular member 64 is complimentary 
in size and shape to the polygonal member 138. Similarly, the lock member 
receiving means formed in the inner tubular member 80 has an enlarged 
aperture 144 at a first end which is complimentary in shape to the 
polygonal member 138 so as to releasably receive the polygonal member 138 
therein. A narrow width slot 146 extends from the enlarged aperture 144 in 
the inner tubular member 80 to slidably receive the stem 140 on the lock 
member 136 mounted on the first clasp member 52. 
Guide means are provided for guiding the sliding movement of the inner 
tubular member 80 within the outer tubular member 64. In one embodiment, 
the guide means comprises a pin 102 which is fixedly mounted, as shown in 
FIGS. 3, 4, 6, 8 and 9, diametrically across the second end 68 of the 
outer tubular member 64, within the interior portion of the side wall 72 
of the outer tubular member 64. The pin 102 engages a pair of 
diametrically opposed slots 104, shown in FIGS. 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 12 and 13 
which are formed in and extending axially from the second end 84 toward 
the first end 82 of the inner tubular member 80. The pin 102 and the slots 
104 coact to limit the axial extension of the second end 84 of the inner 
tubular member 80 outward from the second end 68 of the outer tubular 
member 64 to a predetermined length as well as preventing rotation of the 
inner tubular member 80 within the outer tubular member 64 so as to 
provide proper orientation of the components of the clasp 50 of the 
present invention. 
Another embodiment of the guide means is shown in FIG. 7 in which a pin 106 
is fixedly mounted in the outer tubular member 64 and extends through a 
pair of aligned apertures 108 formed on diametrically opposed portions of 
the side wall 72 of the outer tubular member 64. The pin 106 and the 
apertures 108 are spaced a short distance from the second end 68 of the 
outer tubular member 64. The pin 106 also slidingly engages the 
diametrically opposed slots 104 formed in the second end 84 of the inner 
tubular member 80. 
Although the pins 102 and 106 have been described as a single pin having a 
length equal to the diameter of the outer tubular member 64, it will be 
understood that the guide means may be formed of a single shorter length 
pin and a single slot. Alternately, two co-linearly aligned, short pins 
may be mounted in opposite sides of the outer tubular member 64, with the 
pins extending radially inward to slidably engage two diametrically 
opposed slots 104 formed in the inner tubular member 80. 
Yet another embodiment of the guide means is depicted in FIGS. 10 and 11. 
In this embodiment, a pair of diametrically opposed, radially inward 
extending projections 162 are formed in the side wall 72 of the outer 
tubular member 64 and are spaced a predetermined distance from the second 
end 68 of the outer tubular member 64. The projections 162 can slidably 
engage the slots 104 formed in the second end 84 of the inner tubular 
member 80. However, it has been found that additional strength and a 
simplified manufacturing of the clasp can be achieved by replacing the 
slots 104 with a pair of diametrically opposed recessed grooves 164 which 
are formed by punching or by other suitable means in the inner tubular 
member 80. The grooves 114 extend axially from the second end 84 of the 
inner tubular member 80 for a predetermined distance and are slidably 
engaged by the projections 162 in the outer tubular member 64 to control 
the axial sliding movement of the inner tubular member 80 as well as to 
prevent rotation of the inner tubular member 80 within the outer tubular 
member 64. 
In assembling the second clasp member 54 of the present invention, the 
outer tubular member 64 is constructed as described above, with the pin 
102, the pin 106 or the projections 162 mounted adjacent the second end 68 
thereof. The inner tubular member 80 is then slidably inserted into the 
outer tubular member 64 until the second end 84 of the inner tubular 
member 80 extends outward from the second end 68 of the outer tubular 
member 64 and the slots 104 engage the pin 102, the pin 106 or the 
projections 162, depending upon which embodiment of the guide means of the 
present invention is utilized. The second end 84 of the inner tubular 
member 80 extending outward from the second end 68 of the outer tubular 
member 64, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 9 is fixedly joined to the solid end 97 
of the end cap 98 by soldering, welding, etc. 
The biasing spring 92 is then inserted through the first end 67 of the end 
cup 66 into engagement with the first end 82 of the inner tubular member 
80. The disk 94 is then press fit into the end cup 66 of the outer tubular 
member 64. The decorative members 96 and 100 may then be mounted in the 
end cup 66 and the end cap 98, respectively. 
The normal position of the assembled clasp 54 of the present invention is 
shown in FIGS. 4 and 9. This is the normal or rest position of the clasp 
member 54. In this position, as shown in FIG. 4, the lock arm 88 extends 
across the aperture 70 in the outer tubular member 64. 
In order to interconnect the first and second clasp members 52 and 54, the 
end cap 98 is moved toward the second end 68 of the outer tubular member 
64 until it engages or is in close proximity with the second end 68 of the 
outer tubular member 64 as shown in FIG. 8. This sliding movement urges 
the lock arm 88 to the right, in the orientation shown in FIG. 8, until 
the free end 90 of the lock arm 88 clears the aperture 70 in the side wall 
72 of the outer tubular member 64. In this position, the lock ring 53 on 
the first clasp member 52 can be slidably inserted through the aperture 70 
in the side wall 72 into the interior of the outer tubular member 64 and 
through the gap in the inner tubular member 80 adjacent to the free end 90 
of the lock arm 88. Due to the arcuate length of the aperture 70 in the 
side wall 72 of the outer tubular member 64, the correspondingly sized 
lock ring 53 will be centered within the aperture 70 in alignment with the 
lock arm 88 on the inner tubular member 80. 
The above-described movement of the end cap 98 compresses the spring 92. 
Thereby, upon subsequent release of the end cap 98, the spring 92 expands 
and urges the inner tubular member 80 toward the second end 68 of the 
outer tubular member 64 such that the lock arm 88 slidably passes through 
the aperture 58 in the lock ring 53 on the first clasp member 52 to 
lockingly interconnect the first and second clasp members 52 and 54, as 
shown in FIG. 9. A subsequent movement of the end cap 98 toward the second 
end 68 of the outer tubular member 64 will again slide the lock arm 88 to 
the right out of engagement with the lock ring 53 to enable the first 
clasp member 52 to be separated from the second clasp member 54. 
It should also be noted that during such bidirectional sliding movement of 
the inner tubular member 80 within the outer tubular member 64, the pin 
102, the pin 106 or the projections 162 on the outer tubular member 64 
remains engaged within the slots 104 or the grooves 164 formed in the 
inner tubular member 80 to guide the sliding movement of the inner tubular 
member 80, to maintain the required angular orientation of the lock arm 88 
with the aperture 70 in the outer tubular member 64 so as to enable the 
lock arm 88 to slidably engage the lock ring 53 on the first clasp member 
52, as described above, and to limit the axial extension of the second end 
84 of the inner tubular member 80 out of the second end 68 of the outer 
tubular member 64. 
Another embodiment of a clasp 150 constructed in accordance with the 
teachings of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 14 and 15. The clasp 
150 is formed substantially the same as the clasp 50 described above and 
shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, such that identical components are described and 
depicted with the same reference numbers and new or different components 
have different reference numbers from the corresponding component in the 
clasp 50. Thus, the inner tubular member 80 is provided with an opening 86 
which forms a lock arm 88 therein. At least one and preferably a pair of 
diametrically opposed guide slots 104 extend longitudinally from the 
second end 84 of the inner tubular member 80. The end cap 152, in this 
embodiment, is in the form of a thin, planar disk having a slightly larger 
outer diameter than the diameter of the inner tubular member 80. A 
decorative element or stone 100 may be mounted on the planar disk 152 by 
suitable means, such as an adhesive. 
In this embodiment, the outer tubular member 64 has a closed first end 154. 
The closed first end 154 may be formed by fixedly mounting a disk in the 
originally open first end of the outer tubular member 64. Preferably, 
however, the first end 154 of the outer tubular member 64 is integrally 
formed as a closed end portion with the side wall 72 of the outer tubular 
member 64. A decorative elemental stone 96 may be adhesively mounted to 
the exterior surface of the closed end 154. 
In assembling the clasp 150, the biasing spring 92 is initially inserted 
through the open second end 68 of the outer tubular member 64 until it 
seats against the closed end 154 of the outer tubular member 64. The inner 
tubular member 80 is then inserted through the open second end 68 of the 
outer tubular member 64 until the first end 82 of the inner tubular member 
80 engages the biasing spring 92. The inner tubular member 80 is then 
forcibly urged into the outer tubular member 64 to compress the biasing 
spring 92. 
The guide means of the clasp 150 includes at least one and preferably a 
pair of diametrically opposed tabs 156 which are cut into the side wall 72 
of the outer tubular member 64 and spaced from the second end 68 thereof, 
as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15. The tabs 156 are provided in a number to 
correspond to the number of slots 104 or grooves 164 formed in the inner 
tubular member 80. The tabs 156 are forcibly deformed into the aligned 
slots 104, as shown in FIG. 15, after the inner tubular member 80 has been 
urged fully into the outer tubular member 64 to align the inner tubular 
member 80 in a predetermined angular orientation within the outer tubular 
member 64 as well as to control the amount of outward extension of the 
second end 84 of the inner tubular member 80 from the second end 68 of the 
outer tubular member 64 as described above. 
In an alternate embodiment shown in FIG. 16, the tabs 156 may be formed 
directly at the second end 68 of the outer tubular member 64. 
In summary, there has been disposed an improved clasp which has a 
simplified construction and fewer components than previously devised 
clasps so as to substantially reduce the assembly time of the clasp. In 
addition, the various components of the present clasp are strongly joined 
together to form a reliable clasp which still is easy to operate.