Locket assembly

A locket assembly utilizes a locket body and a hingeable cover thereto having a disengageable clasp member to secure the cover to the body in a closed position. The locket face may be solid or have a transparent portion so as to permit viewing of an indicia-bearing sheet disposed within the locket. A portion of the locket extends outwardly of the outermost surface of the body and is provided with a threaded hole for engaging a coupling element adapted to couple to other locket bodies in a string-like fashion. Each locket is provided with a plate hingeably secured to the rearmost surface of the locket and having a spring causing the plate to pivot in an outward position relative to the rearmost surface of the locket. A spring bias clasp is adapted to maintain the plate in a position parallel to the rear surface of the locket whereby a fabric-like tape may be clasped therein between providing support for the locket so as to permit a number of such lockets to be strung up into a necklace, each supported by the tape.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. The Field of the Invention 
This invention relates to lockets and more particularly to that class 
having an external clasping means for securing the locket to a supporting 
element and having decorative nonfunctional securing elements in addition 
thereto. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
The prior art abounds with locket-type devices. U.S. Pat. No. 563,882 
issued on July 14, 1896, to I. B. Rapaport teaches a locket having a front 
portion hingeably affixed to a body portion and having an eyelet-like 
mounting loop secured to the body portion for hanging locket from a chain 
or other apparatus. A lever extends outwardly from the rearmost surface of 
the locket utilized to open the hingeable portion of the locket upon 
manipulation thereof. The Rapaport apparatus relies solely upon the eyelet 
fastener secured to the body of the locket for supporting the apparatus. 
U.S. Pat. No. 681,336 issued on Aug. 27, 1901, to D. D. Nevins discloses a 
locket body and a cover hingeably secured thereto utilizing a hinging 
mechanism secured within the base of the locket and to the innermost 
surface of the lid having a shiftable fulcrum design such that the lid may 
be lifted on the locket by depressing on the selected portion of the lid 
and having a concealed rim feature which hides the fact that the locket 
may be opened from the outside. The body of the locket is provided with a 
ring-like fastener for supporting the locket from a chain or other 
line-like apparatus. The Nevins device utilizes a functional loop which is 
always visible on the outside surfaces of the locket for supporting 
purposes, in similar fashion to the Rapaport apparatus. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
A primary object of the present invention is to provide a means of mounting 
a locket to a tape member providing the principal support for the locket 
assembly. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide a locket assembly 
having a decorative securing apparatus as opposed to a functional securing 
apparatus, at all times visibly accessible. 
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a locket 
apparatus wherein a broad portion of the tape may be secured to the 
rearmost surface of the locket. 
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a locket assembly 
which may be strung together with other locket assemblies with great ease. 
A further object of the present invention is to provide a locket apparatus 
which may be fabricated into a necklace form when desired. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide a locket whose 
interior compartment may be viewed whilst the lid portion thereof is 
maintained in a closed position. 
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a locket 
assembly having decorative joining components, utilized to join the locket 
assembly to other similarly constructed devices. 
Heretofore, lockets were primarily provided having support consisting of an 
eyelet-like fastener secured to the body of the locket thereby enabling 
the apparatus to be hung only from a chain or a pin-like apparatus adapted 
to pass through a portion of the garments of the user. Necklaces and 
bracelets of conventional design oft times were utilized to support 
lockets in a freely hung position therefrom. Such devices failed to 
satisfactorily maintain the locket face in a preferred position, usually 
such that the lid portion of the locket was maintained parallel outwardly 
from an outermost portion of the garments of the user. Furthermore, 
lockets of any variety were unable to be added, one to another, so as to 
form a necklace or a string of lockets. The present invention recognizes 
these problems and overcomes the same by providing a locket apparatus 
having a decorative joining device or element which, whilst appearing to 
be functional in nature, disguises the true securing apparatus comprising 
a clasping plate located behind the rearmost wall of the locket which 
maintains the locket securely clasped to a tape-like element, flexible in 
nature, which may be worn as a necklace or bracelet, as desired. Hence, 
the finished appearance of the locket assemblies consists of metallic-like 
elements bringing a plurality of lockets together where in reality, each 
of the lockets of the assembly are clasped to the tape by the hidden 
member. In this fashion, each of the lockets are maintained parallel to 
the body of the user having the lid portions thereof maintained in an 
outermost relationship to the garment of the user. By making the lid 
transparent, indicia bearing sheets, located within the locket are visible 
at all times. Sophisticated designs, such as a heart design for each 
locket assembly, coupled together by a circlet of metallic material, may 
be utilized so as to create the appearance of the twelve signs of the 
Zodiac wherein the circlet represents the planet governing each sign. The 
joining elements, by being removably coupled to each locket may be removed 
when not required so as to form together any desired number of lockets in 
a single elongated chain or, if desired, into a Y-like necklace adapted to 
be worn about the neck of the user and having the leg portion of the 
Y-shaped necklace depend downwardly therefrom. 
These objects as well as other objects of the present invention, will 
become more readily apparent after reading the following description of 
the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
The structure and method of fabrication of the present invention is 
applicable to a locket apparatus having a locket body and a locket lid 
hingeably secured thereto at a location adjacent to the marginal edges of 
the body and the marginal edges of the lid, such marginal edges having 
virtually identical shapes. One portion of the body of the locket is 
provided having a tapped hole therein. Another portion of the locket is 
provided having a rod-like appendage extending outwardly therefrom to 
which is affixed a small circle of metallic material. The outermost region 
of the metal circle is provided with a tapped hole. A joining element is 
utilized to join a series of lockets together having a large circlet of 
metal, in ring form, fixedly secured to a smaller ring of metal and having 
a pair of threaded rods extending outwardly therefrom in a lined 
relationship and each extending along a line passing through the origin of 
each of the rings. The threaded rods are dimensioned to threadingly engage 
either of the threaded holes associated with the base of the locket. The 
lid may be solid in nature so as to be opaque, or if desired, may have a 
window-like area extending inwardly from the marginal edges of the lid, 
otherwise being fabricated from metallic-like material such as anodized 
aluminum, brass, copper, silver or gold. The body of the locket, including 
its appendage, may be fabricated from a similar metal. A plate is 
hingeably secured to the outermost rearmost surface of the locket body 
such that the plate when residing in a position parallel to the outermost 
surface of the body of the locket is substantially centered between the 
marginal edges of the locket. A spring, preferably in helical shape, 
passes about a pivot rod whose ends are secured to the outermost surface 
of the locket. The rod may be secured utilizing welding, brazing, or the 
like. One end of the spring is disposed in touching engagement with a 
first surface of the plate. The other end of the spring is disposed in 
touching engagement with the rear exterior surface of the locket body. The 
plate has a notch therein such that a pair of fingers are provided. Each 
of the fingers are bent so as to form loops partially or virtually totally 
encircling the rod. The spring is wound so as to act as biasing means for 
the plate whose free end is biased so as to have it's first surface, the 
surface contacting the spring disposed in a direction parallel and 
adjacent to the exterior surface of the base of the locket. When the plate 
is pivoted about the rod, the plate may be positioned so as to have the 
spring contacting, or first surface of the plate disposed in parallel 
adjacent relationship with the exterior surface of the locket body. When 
in this position, such surface may be utilized to grasp a flexible tape 
between the surface of the plate and the exterior rearmost surface of the 
body. A bar, having narrower width than the plate, is pivotally secured to 
the exterior rearmost surface of the locket body and has one end thereof 
disposed biased towards such exterior rearmost surface utilizing a 
hairpin, U-shaped spring therefor. One end of the spring is in touching 
engagement with the rearmost surface of the body of the locket, whilst the 
other end of the spring is disposed secured to the other end of the bar. 
Another pivot rod is utilized to pivotally secure the bar to the exterior 
rearmost surface of the locket body such that it is located intermediate 
the ends of the bar. When the plate is disposed clasping the flexible 
strap or band, the bar may be pivoted upwardly and outwardly from the 
rearmost surface of the locket body so as to allow the plate to be 
disposed manually parallel to the rearmost surface of the locket, such 
that the first surface of the plate is located away from the otherwise 
exposed rear surface of the locket, the other lateral surface of the plate 
being adjacent and parallel to the rear surface of the locket. Releasing 
the bar permits the free end thereof to engage the plate, maintaining the 
plate in a closed position against a surface of the band. In this fashion, 
lockets may be disposed in any desired position along the length of the 
band or strap and may have, when desired, the joining element disposed 
between adjacent lockets so as to create the impression that each locket 
depends from its neighbor locket utilizing the joining elements therefor. 
If desired, the joining elements may be removed, so as to support the 
lockets in spaced apart relationship along the length of the band. 
Furthermore, such joining elements may be utilized to support the lockets, 
without use of bands or straps, if desired. The locket lid is fabricated 
from metallic material, similar to the body portion of the locket and has 
a hinge, of conventional design, secured fastening the lid pivotally to 
the locket body. A clasp, of conventional design, may be utilized to 
maintain the lid in a closed position when desired. The transparent 
embodiment of the lid, may be fabricated from a transparent plastic 
material, such as cellulose acetate butyrate, or if desired, may contain 
such plastic material fixedly secured to a rim-like portion of the lid 
fabricated from a metal material similar to the body portion of the 
locket. The tape or band element may be fabricated from a fabric-like 
material, such as cotton or plastic webbing. 
Now referring to the figures, and more particularly to the embodiment 
illustrated in FIG. 1 showing the present invention 10 comprising the 
rearmost surface 12 of the locket body portion 14. Plate 16 is shown 
secured to surface 12 and is pivotally secured thereto along dotted lines 
18. Spring element 20 is disposed centered around dotted lines 18, having 
end 22 thereof disposed in touching engagement with surface 24 of plate 
16. Flexible band or strap 26 is shown in touching engagement with surface 
12 and positioned adjacent to plate 16. Bar 28 is pivotally secured to 
body 14 alongst dotted lines 30. End 32 of bar 28 is shown partially 
covering band 26. 
FIG. 2 illustrates lid portion 34 of the present invention positioned so as 
to conceal portions 36 of band 26. Plate 16 is shown in a closed position 
having portion 36 underneath plate 16 and having bar 28 located on top of 
plate 16. Rod-like member 38 is shown extending outwardly from the 
marginal edges 40 defining lid 34 and has a ring-like portion 42 secured 
to the free end thereof. Large ring 44 is shown secured to the end of 
rod-like element 38. Ring 46 is attached to ring 44 permanently. Ring 42 
is threadingly engaged to ring 44 at point 48. 
FIG. 3 illustrates body portion 14 of present invention and has lid portion 
34 hingeably secured thereto utilizing hinge apparatus 50. Threaded hole 
52 is shown aligned with threaded hole 54. Lid 34 is provided having 
transparent portion 56 disposed substantially covering the entire surface 
thereof excepting for regions 58, extending somewhat inwardly from 
marginal edge 60, of lid 34. Ring 42 and rod-like member 38 is shown 
enlarged, in FIG. 3, relative to their depictions in FIG. 2, to more 
clearly indicate threaded holes 52 and 54. 
FIG. 4 illustrates lockets 62 and 64 disposed above locket 66. Locket 68 is 
shown depending downardly from locket 66. Strap element 26 is utilized to 
support locket 62 whilst strap element 70 is utilized to support locket 
64. Strap element 72, joined to strap elements 26 and 70, in a manner well 
known to the art, provides support for locket 68. Joining elements 74 join 
together locket 66 to locket 62 and 64. Joining element 76 joins together 
locket 68 to locket 66. It should be noted that joining elements 78 are 
disposed aligned with joining elements 74 whilst both joining elements 74 
are askew to each other and joining element 76, such element having a 
different appearance from joining element 74. 
FIG. 5 illustrates typical joining element 74 comprising small ring 46 
secured to large ring 44 at location 80. Threaded rod 82 extends outwardly 
from small ring 46 and is shown aligned with threaded rod 84. Threaded 
rods 82 and 84 are dimensioned so as to threadingly engage threaded holes 
52 and 54, shown in FIG. 3. 
FIG. 6 illustrates plate 16 pivotally secured to pivot rod 86 utilizing 
fingers 88 therefor. Rod ends 90 are fixedly secured to surface 12. End 22 
of spring 20 engages surface 24 of plate 16, whilst end 108 of spring 20 
engages surface 12. A notch is disposed intermediate legs or fingers 88, 
providing clearance for some of the turns of helical spring 20. 
FIG. 7 illustrates surface 12 of locket face 14 to which is affixed pivot 
rod 92. Eyelet 94 has its ends fixedly secured to bar 28. U-shaped spring 
110 is provided having one end thereof engaging surface 12 whilst the 
other end thereof engages one end of bar 28. The other end of bar 28 
extends outwardly from eyelet 94 for engagement with plate 16, shown in 
FIG. 2, when such plate is disposed clasping flexible band or strap 26, as 
shown therein. 
One of the advantages of the present invention is to provide a means of 
mounting a locket to a tape member providing the principal support for the 
locket assembly. 
Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a locket assembly 
having a decorative securing apparatus as opposed to a functional securing 
apparatus, at all times visibly accessible. 
Still another advantage of the present invention is to provide a locket 
apparatus wherein a broad portion of the tape may be secured to the 
rearmost surface of the locket. 
Yet another advantage of the present invention is to provide a locket 
assembly which may be strung together with other locket assemblies with 
great ease. 
A further advantage of the present invention is to provide a locket 
apparatus which may be fabricated into a necklace form when desired. 
Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a locket whose 
interior compartment may be viewed whilst the lid portion thereof is 
maintained in a closed position. 
Still another advantage of the present invention is to provide a locket 
assembly having decorative joining components, utilized to join the locket 
assembly to other similarly constructed devices. 
Thus, there is disclosed in the above description and in the drawings, an 
embodiment of the invention which fully and effectively accomplishes the 
objects thereof. However, it will become apparent to those skilled in the 
art, how to make variations and modifications to the instant invention. 
Therefore, this invention is to be limited, not by the specific disclosure 
herein, but only by the appending claims.