MAINTENANCE-FREE NECKLACE

Abstract: A maintenance-free necklace has a string (1) comprising an identifying nipple (3) in free rotation, and a sealed knob (6), with bayonet-type protrusions cooperating with a standard clasp.

Description: Maintenance- free necklace The present invention concerns the subject of necklaces and more generally of hollow beads threaded on a string to form a decorative object, like wrist bracelets, ankle bracelets or the like, all these objects being thereafter called necklaces. Necklaces, particularly pearl necklaces, are typically worn by women after they have been sold by a retailer. The manufacturer of the necklace commonly delivers a semi-finished product to the retailer; this semi-finished product consists of a simple string, called hereafter a temporary string, on which beads, particularly pearls, are threaded. It is generally delivered without a clasp closing the temporary string; escapement of beads is prevented by at least one knot made at each end of the temporary string. The retailer uses a different, definitive string to thread the beads definitively, upon assembly of the finished product ready for final delivery to the end user. The retailer ties a knot after each bead threaded on the definitive string. This is necessary for three reasons: 1) the total clearance, i.e. the difference between the length of the definitive string and the total width of the beads, should be uniformly distributed along the string; 2) each knot serves as a spacer to prevent friction between the beads; 3) an accidental rupture of the definitive string should not result in a disastrous dispersion of all the beads or pearls escaping through the breaking point of the definitive string. CflkflfiMATJON COPY The known necklaces typically require a yearly, professional maintenance. This means that the retailer recommends to the client, at the time of purchase, to return the necklace once a year to check the good state of the definitive string and replace it as needed. This comes in addition to the cleaning operations (e.g. removal of cosmetic products) usually performed by the wearer of the necklace. Having to service a necklace once a year is an important drawback for the end user. An additional drawback, for the manufacturer, is that he has no possibility to affix a distinctive trademark on the set of beads delivered to the retailer : the fact that the semi-finished product has later to be disassembled makes it anonymous and is detrimental to security in the process. The invention overcomes these drawbacks by the means described in the characterizing part of claim 1. In a particular embodiment of the invention, the part of the string containing the device is made in a material allowing the insertion of a microprocessor or chip. This chip is able to exchange data with a separate control apparatus; the control apparatus can, in a known manner, either erase and replace the data stored in the chip, or only read some of them, this depending on its authorization level. The data can reflect for instance a serial number, a trade mark, a manufacturer's and/or retailer's name, a date of manufacturing. In a simpler embodiment of the invention, the device is merely an inscription, legible with or without instruments like a magnifier, written on a part of the string. In both above described embodiments, confidential data can be coded. In a particular embodiment of the invention, the string is made of a multiple- stranded cable, preferably a steel cable. A coating, e.g., a highly adhesive plastic coating, known in itself, is applied on the steel cable to avoid any abrasion effect of the strands on the holes of the beads. The part of the string carrying the inscription can, in particular, be a nipple at one end of the string. The string, being made of a mechanically resistant, multiple-stranded cable, cannot be cut by usual scissors. It is absolutely maintenance-free, in contrast to the prior art, where maintenance was necessary because of the risks of breakage. The habit of executing, at the retailer's store, a knot between each bead compelled the retailer to use a very flexible material, like nylon or silk, for the definitive string. The string according to this embodiment identifies the necklace by an inscription, on a nipple attached to the string. Said nipple can be at the immediate vicinity of a pendant; said pendant can also, in a know manner, function as the clasp of the necklace. In a particular embodiment of the invention, the string is terminated, at least at one of its two ends, by a knob affixed to said end. This knob can cooperate, in a manner known in itself, with a clasp mechanism of the so-called bayonet type. In this type of clasp mechanism, the knob is protruding in the same direction as the terminal part of the string, and can engage in a hole of the clasp only at a limited number of angular positions. After its engagement, the knob is rotated inside the clasp, this rotation entailing a locking effect. In a particular embodiment of the invention, the cable string is mechanically resistant to a relative angular rotation between its two ends. In this embodiment, in order to facilitate the relative rotation of : a) the knob collaborating with a clasp mechanism b) the nipple carrying the inscription with regard to the string, the knob, or the nipple, or both, are arranged so as to move freely in rotation with regard to the string. This is particularly useful in the case of a bayonet-type clasp, because it allows to avoid any constraints that could remain in the string after the necklace is attached. In a particular embodiment of the invention, the nipple carrying the inscription has the general shape of a cylindrical bead with a bayonet-type protrusion, allowing to attach the necklace. This bead, without the protrusion is first threaded on the string, which has an end that cooperates with a striction in the hole of the bead, allowing free rotation. A closing cork, carrying the bayonet- type protrusion, is then brought on the cylindrical bead, preferably in a nonremovable manner such as stamping, soldering, or screwing with a high couple. When the nipple is assembled, it can freely rotate around the end of the string, cannot be separated from it, and allows the bayonet-type protrusion to close in on a clasp. The above described embodiments allow the manufacturer of the necklace to deliver a necklace with a standard clasp, accommodating bayonet-type protrusion parts to be inserted on both sides in a known manner. As the clasp is more and more becoming a decorative part of the necklace, being used as a pendant, the retailer can then propose to the end user a choice of decorative clasps that fit the necklace style, thus simply removing the standard clasp delivered by the manufacturer with the necklace. Dampers are preferably inserted between two consecutive beads by the manufacturer to serve as spacers between said two consecutive beads. These dampers are preferably compressible in order to remove any tension. They can also have a decorative function. In a particular embodiment of the invention, the knob is fixed, in an unremovable manner, to the end of the string that is opposed to the nipple's end. Such fixing can be made by a mechanical seal, i.e. by permanently deforming some parts of the knob to make them bite on the string. The outer portion of the knob is a bayonet-type protrusion, allowing to close the necklace by cooperating with the standard clasp, as described above. It is advantageous to have one end of the string, e.g. the nipple, in free rotation, while the other end, e.g. the knob, is sealed on the string. It will be readily understood that one free-rotation mechanism is sufficient to avoid any constraints in the closed necklace. This invention will be better understood at the light of the following detailed description, with reference to the appended drawings in which : • Figure 1 is a longitudinal cross-section of one end of the finished necklace according to a first embodiment of the invention; • Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross-section of a subset of figure 1 ; • Figure 3 is a view of the opposite end of the string of same necklace; • Figure 4 is a longitudinal cross-section of figure 3; • Figure 5 is a perspective view of a necklace according to a second embodiment of the invention. The string 1, a multiple-stranded cable, is terminated by a steel head 11 that is unremovably fixed to its end. Prior to the threading of any beads 9 on the string 1, a nipple 3 is brought to the end of string, according to the following sequence : a) a hollow cylindrical bead 7 is adapted to receive the head 11 in its hollow part, in free rotation. The bead 7 is threaded on string 1 from its opposite end, and the head 11 is inserted into its hollow part; b) a bayonet-type cork 10 is secured, by means known in themselves, by partial insertion into its hollow part, thereby preventing head 11 from escaping from the bead 7. The securing means can include stamping, soldering or screwing. It allows free rotation of head 11 inside the hollow part; c) after this operation, the nipple 3 is formed by bead 7 and cork 10, secured together and imprisoning the head 1 1 of string 1. Figure 1 shows a chip 4 inside the bead 7. It can be placed immediately under the external surface of bead 7, so as to be protected from any shock, and still allow interaction with a mobile control apparatus 5 that can be brought close to said surface of bead 7. This allows the exchange of data between the control apparatus 5 and the chip 4 and can include the providing of energy to chip 4 by control apparatus 5. The portion of the bead 7 situated between chip 4 and the external surface of bead 7 can advantageously be transparent, in order to facilitate the transmission of optical data. Figure 2 shows in more detail the bayonet-type cork 10, with a hollow part 13 cooperating with the hollow part of the bead 7 to imprison the head 11 of string 1. The external cylindrical surface 8 of the cork 10 is secured, e.g. by stamping or soldering, to the internal corresponding surface of said hollow part. Figure 3 and 4 show the other end of string 1. A knob 6 terminates a shaft 12 secured to the last millimeters of string 1. No rotation is possible between string 1, shaft 12 and knob 6. Knob 6 is adapted to bayonet-type clasps. Such a clasp can receive, on one side the knob 6, and on the other side the bayonet part of the cork 10, thereby closing the necklace in a known manner. The rotations entailed by actuating the bayonet mechanisms are taken over by the fitting between the head 1 1 and the nipple 3, which are free in relative rotation. Figure 4 shows a longitudinal cross-section of string 1, shaft 12 and knob 6 as represented in Figure 3. Referring to previously-mentioned step c), the beads are, as the next step, threaded on string 1 from the free end 13 opposite to the head 11 , before said end 13 of string 1 is inserted into shaft 12. The beads threaded allow for a sufficient space to seal shaft 12 on the last portion 14 of string 1. Such sealing is done after all the beads are threaded on string 1. Shaft 12 can e.g. be stamped on part 14 of the string 1. Figure 5 shows another embodiment of the invention, in which the nipple 3 identifies the necklace 2 by an inscription 4.

Claims: Claims 1) Necklace string (1), adapted to support beads of a necklace (2), characterized in that the string (1) can identify the necklace (2) by a device (4) on a part (3) of the string (1), and in that the necklace (2) is maintenance-free. 2) The necklace string (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the device (4) is a microprocessor or chip being able to exchange data with a control apparatus (5). 3) Necklace string (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the device (4) identifying the necklace (2) is an inscription, legible on the part (3) of the string. 4) Necklace string (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the string (1) is a multiple-stranded cable, covered by a coating intended to protect the beads from abrasion by the cable, and in that the part (3) is a nipple attached to the string (1). 5) Necklace string (1) according to claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a knob (6) is affixed to at least one end of the string (1), said knob (6) being adapted to bayonet-type clasps. 6) Necklace string (1) according to claims 4 and 5, characterized in that the knob (6) affixed to one end of the string (1), or the nipple (3) carrying the identification (4), can freely move in rotation with regard to the string (1). 7) Necklace string (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the nipple (3) carrying the identification (4) comprises a hollow cylindrical bead (7), able to accommodate a string (l)'s end in free rotation, and a bayonet-type cork (10) stamped, soldered or screwed on the hollow part of said bead (7) imprisoning the string's end. 8) Necklace string (1) according to claims 5 or 6, characterized in that the knob (6) is unremovably sealed on the respective end of the string (1). 9) Necklace (2) made with a string (1) according to claim 1. AMENDED CLAIMS [received by the International Bureau on 5 October 1999 (05.10.99); original claims 1-9 replaced by new claims 1-9 (2 pages)] 1. Necklace (2) comprising : • a string (1) • several beads (9), each one having a hole in which said string (1) is engaged, and • assembling means (3) disposed at the two ends of said string, characterized in that the string (1) is made of a metal cable and the assembling means are unremovably sealed at the respective end of the string. 2. Necklace according to claim 1, characterized in that it moreover comprises an identifying device (4) unremovably attached at the assembling means (3). 3. Necklace according to claim 2, characterized in that said device identifying the necklace comprises a microprocessor or chip able to exchange data with a control apparatus (5). 4. Necklace according to claim 2, characterized in that said device identifying the necklace comprises an inscription, legible on a part (3) of said assembling means. 5. Necklace according to claim 1, characterized in that said string (1) is a multiple-stranded cable covered by a coating intended to protect the beads from abrasion by the cable, and in that said assembling means are formed by a nipple (3) attached to the string (1). 6. Necklace according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said assembling means comprises a knob (6) affixed to at least one end of the string (1), said knob (6) being adapted to bayonet-type clasps. 7. Necklace according to one of claims I to 6, characterized in that said assembling means comprise at least a part (6, 3) freely movable in rotation in regard to the string (1). 8. Necklace according to claims 5 and 7, characterized in that said nipple (3) comprises a hollow cylindrical bead (7) able to accommodate one end of said string (1) in a free rotation, and a bayonet-type cork (10) stamped or screwed on the hollow part of said bead (7), imprisoning the string's end. 9. Necklace according to claims 6, characterized in that said knob is unremovably sealed on the respective end of the string (1).

Inventors: THOMMAN YVES, THOMMAN, YVES
Applicants: GOLAY BUCHEL ET CIE S A, THOMMAN YVES, GOLAY - BUCHEL ET CIE S.A., THOMMAN, YVES
Application year: 1998
Main classification: A44C11
IPC codes: A44C5, A44C11